EADER> 


BOOK 


_          ,_ 

x  xjAssA-s  Lsjst/f4 

d    (/ 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

OIKT  OF 


Received 
Accession  No.0/70&     .    Class  No. 


FOR     INTERMEDIATE    CLASSES. 


POPULAR  SCIENCE  READER; 


CONTAINING 


LESSONS   AND    SELECTIONS 

IN 

NATURAL  PHILOSOPHY, 

BOTANY,  AND 
NATURAL  HISTORY; 

WITH       y 

BLACKBOARD  DRAWING  AND  WRITTEN  E 


OF  THK 


I  UNIVERSITY 
BY   JAMES    MONTEfq^^p^\^ 

AUTHOR     OF     GEOGRAPHIES,     WALL     MAPS,     A     PICTORIAL     CHART     OF     GEOGRAPHY, 
HISTORY   OF    THE    UNITED    STATES,    AND    EASY   LESSONS   IN    POPULAR   SCIENCE. 


VopyrigM,  1881,  James  Monteith. 
NEW   YORK  •:•  CINCINNATI  •:•  CHICAGO 

AMERICAN     BOOK     COMPANY 


JF/irt*  may  be  found  on 

Ji 


Picture?      Point  to  each. 

rora  the  Ocean.        Ocean.  Watershed  on  which  is  Windmill.         Peninsula.         Isthmus, 

rwheel.  Waterfall.      Promontory  and  Lighthouse.  Mountains.        Geyser, 

ine  House.  Channel.         Reservoir  and  Tower  near  bridge.        Volcano.  Islands, 

tension  Bridge.  Foundries  and  Manufactories. 


PECULIARITIES    OF    MONTEITH'S 
POPULAR  SCIENCE  READERS. 


1.  They  are  a  decided  departure  from  the  ordinary 

school  reader. 

2.  Their  lessons  and  selections  not  only  train  the  voice 

and  furnish  entertainment  as  do  other  readers,  but  they 
also  educate  the  mind  and  fill  it  with  valuable  and  prac- 
tical information. 

3.  Their    subjects    are   such    as   observing    and    enquiring 

pupils  are  most  interested  in  ;  they  are  of  great  range, 
and  are  short  and  varied  ;  they  tell  of  things  in  the  air  and 
in  the  water,  on  the  land  and  under  its  surface,  animate 
and  inanimate. 

4.  Their  Style  of  presentation  is  such  as  will  attract  atten- 

tion and  lead  the  young  learners  to  further  research  and 
fuller  investigation. 

s>.  They  discard  wholly  all  stories  that  are  overdrawn  or 
grotesque  and  which  tend  to  intoxicate  the  imagination 
or  dwarf  the  intellect. 

6.  They   do    not    admit    exciting    narratives   which   make 

heroes  of  men  and  boys  for  some  bloody  encounter,  horri- 
ble atrocity,  or  revolting  crime  or  habit,  as  if  to  say  to  the 
young,  Go  and  do  likewise  ! 

7.  But  they  do  seek,  by  presenting  a  number  of  easy  and 

interesting  chapters  on  natural  science  and  natural  his- 
tory, and  by  supplementing  each  with  appropriate  selec- 
tions in  prose  and  poetry  by  celebrated  authors,  to  lift  the 
thoughts  and  aspirations  of  young  readers  to  a  higher 
plane. 

8.  Industry,   bravery,   perseverance,    nobleness,  self- 

sacrifice,  dignity  of  labor,  devotion  and  filial  affection,  all 
have  their  exponents  in  these  new  books. 

9.  The    illustrations   are   more   numerous  and   instructive 

than  those  of  any  other  school  reader. 

IO.  Valuable  foot-notes  with  short  sketches  of  the  authors 
and  the  pronunciation  of  worda  are  found  on  nearly  every 
page. 


CONTENTS. 

PACE 

WHAT  is  NOBLE?    POEM Swain 7 

ABOUT  THE  WORLD  WE  LIVE  IN . 9 

THE  WIND,   MISTS,  AND  DAYBREAK.    POEM Longfellow 18 

THE  OCEAN,   ITS  USES  AND  DANGERS I9 

WHALES  AND  OTHER  MARINE  ANIMALS,  FISHES,   ETC *6 

A  TEMPEST  AT  SEA 38 

A  RAIN-DREAM.      POEM Bryant 41 

THREE  FISHERS   WENT  SAILING.    POEM Kingsley 43 

COD  FISHING  AND  SEAL   CATCHING Earl  of  Dunraven.    44 

A  SHIP  IN  A  STORM Archbishop  Hughes    49 

SNOW  FLAKES.    POEM 52 

THE  VOICE  OF  THE  WIND.     POEM Miss  Procter 53 

THE  MISSING  SHIP 55 

THE  LOST  STEAMSHIP.    POEM Mrs.  Sigourney 56 

ALL'S  WELL.    POEM 58 

THE  BRAVE  PILOT Gough 59 

LITTLE  MABEL  WITH  FACE  AGAINST  THE  PANE.    POEM  .  .A  Idrich 61 

ABOUT  LIGHTHOUSES 65 

THE  LIGHTHOUSE.    POEM Longfellow 66 

THE  STORY  OF  EDDYSTONE   LIGHTHOUSE 67 

OCEAN  CURRENTS,  GULF  STREAM,  ETC.;  THEIR  NATURE  AND  USES 70 

ABOUT  SHIPS,  MACHINERY,   ETC 73 

SEA-FIGHT  BETWEEN  THE  MERRIMAC  AND  MONITOR 79 

ABOUT  DOCKS,  HARBORS,  DRY-DOCKS,  ETC 80 

ABOUT  THE  ZONES  AND  SEASONS  OF  THE  EARTH 83 

JACK  FROST.    POEM Hannah  T.  Gould .    86 

ABOUT  RIVERS,  THEIR  FORMATION  AND  USES 87 

SONG  OF  THE  BROOK.     POEM Tennyson 98 

THE  BROOK  AND  WEE  ELSIE.     POEM C.  W.  Thomson 100 

A  SNOW-FLAKE.    POEM .  .Aldrich 101 

THE  LUMBERMEN.     POEM Whittier 102 

SCENE  AT  NIAGARA  FALLS Tarson 104 

THE  WATER-MILL.     POEM McCallunt 107 

ABOUT  WINDMILLS 109 

DANGERS  OF  A  TORRENT Miss  Bird 112 

ABOUT  WELLS,  SPRINGS,   ETC 115 

ABOUT  CAPES,   ISLANDS,  AND  TUNNELS 121 

CANALS  ;    How  CONSTRUCTED  AND  USED 1*5 

A  BRAVE  BOY  PREVENTS  A  DESTRUCTIVE  OVER- 
FLOW.   POEM Phele  Gary 130 

AQUEDUCTS  AND   BRIDGES  ;  THEIR  CONSTRUCTION  AND  USES 136 

ADVENTURE  AND    DEVOTION    OF   A   BOY   AT   THE 

NATURAL  BRIDGE Burritt — 142 

BALLOONS;  THEIR  CONSTRUCTION,  USES,   AND  DANGERS 149 

A  TRIP  IN  A  BALLOON iS» 


vi  Contents. 

PAGE 

TREES  AND  PLANTS  ;  THEIR  GROWTH  AND  USES  ;  ROOTS,  LEAVES,  SEEDS  . .  156 

THE  CORN  SONG.     POEM Whittier 197 

THE  VIOLET'S  COMPLAINT ..N.  Y.  Observer.....  199 

DEATH  OF  THE  FLOWERS.     POEM Bryant 201 

IN  THE  WOODS;    HUNTING  ADVENTURES , Dunraven 203 

MINING;    COAL,  IRON,   GOLD,  SILVER,  ETC 211 

SALT  ;   How  OBTAINED 220 

COPPER,  TIN,  ZINC,   BRASS 222 

DANGERS  IN  THE   MINES 324 

A  DESCENT  INTO  A  MINE f..  226 

FLINT  AND  STEEL.     POEM Saxe 228 

THE  COAL  MINE  ;    How  COAL  WAS   FORMED 229 

EUREKA!    1  HAVE  FOUND   IT 230 

ABOUT  MOUNTAINS  AND  VOLCANOES 232 

ERUPTION  OF  VESUVIUS 235 

THE  DESTRUCTION  OF  POMPEII Bulwer. 236 

USES  OF  MOUNTAINS T.  Starr  King  ....  245 

EARTHQUAKE  IN  Scio,  1881 247 

BIRDS  ;    THEIR  HABITS,   HOMES,   ETC 249 

A    NATURALIST   AMONG    BIRDS  ;     THEIR   AFFECTION, 

BRAVERY,  PERSEVERANCE,  JOY,  SAGACITY Edward. 266 

NOTES  ON  BIRDS ....  277 

THE  WATERFOWL.     POEM Bryant 279 

ROBERT  OF  LINCOLN.    POEM Bryant 280 

HOSPITALITY  OF  BIRDS 283 

SCATTER  YOUR  CRUMBS.     POEM  ..  285 

A  NOBLE  BOY  AND  His  FAITHFUL  BIRD N.  Y.  Observer 286 

WRITING  LESSON  ON   BIRDS -. 291 

QUADRUPEDS;  THEIR   PECULIARITIES  AND   USEFULNESS 292 

A  GORILLA  HUNT Du  Chaillu 299 

WRITING  LESSON  ON  ANIMALS 316 

ADVENTURE  WITH  WOLVES -. 318 

THE   BLIND   MAN  AND   His   DOG 322 

HOMES  AND  COMPARATIVE  SIZE  OF  ANIMALS,   BIRDS  AND  REPTILES 325 

THE   WHITE  ELEPHANT. Vincent  333 

ADVENTURES  IN  AFRICA Stanley 336 

A  LION  HUNT Stanley 337 

THE  KANGAROO 338 

THE  DOGS  OF  CONSTANTINOPLE De  Amicis 339 

INSECTS  ;  THEIR  NATURE  AND  USEFULNESS 341 

PERSEVERANCE  TAUGHT  BY  A  SPIDER 354 

KING  SOLOMON  AND  THE  BEES 356 

SPELLING  AND  PRONUNCIATION 358 


LESSONS  po  READINGS, 


I.  WHAT    IS    NOBLE? 

JHAT  is  noble  ?— To  inherit 

Wealth,  estate,  and  proud  degree  ?— 
There  must  be  some  other  merit 
Higher  yet  than  these  for  me ! — 
Something  greater  far  must  enter 

Into  life's  majestic  span, 
Fitted  to  create  and  center 
True  nobility  in  man. 

What  is  noble  ? — 'tis  the  finer 

Portion  of  our  mind  and  heart, 
Link'd  to  something  still  divi'ner 

Than  mere  lan'guage  can  impart : 
Ever  prompting — ever  seeing 

Some  improvement  yet  to  plan ; 
To  uplift  our  fellow  being, 

And,  like  man,  to  feel  for  man. 

What  is  noble  ? — Is  the  sabre 

Nobler  than  the  humble  spade  ? — 
There's  a  dignity  in  labor 

Truer  than  e'er  pomp  arrayed ! 
He  who  seeks  the  Mind's  improvement 

Aids  the  world,  in  aiding  Mind ! 
Every  great  commanding  movement 

Serves  not  one,  but  all  mankind. 
7 


8  What  is  Noble  f 

O'er  the  forge's  heat  and  ashes, — 

O'er  the  engine's1  iron  head, — 
Where  the  rapid  shuttle  flashes, 

And  the  spindle  whirls  its  thread : 
There  is  labor,  lowly  tending 

Each  requirement  of  the  hour, — 
There  is  genius,  still  extending 

Science  and  its  world  of  power  ! 

'Mid  the  dust,  and  speed,  and  clamor 

Of  the  loom-shed  and  the  mill ; 
'Midst  the  clink  of  wheel  and  hammer, 

Great  results  are  growing  still ! 
Though  too  oft,  by  fashion's  creatures, 

Work  and  workers  may  be  blamed, 
Commerce  need  not  hide  its  features, — 

In'dustry  is  not  ashamed  ! 

What  is  noble  ? — That  which  places 

Truth  in  its  enfranchised 2  will, 
Leaving  steps  like  angel-traces, 

That  mankind  may  follow  still ! 
E'en  though  scorn's  malignant  glances 

Prove  him  poorest  of  his  clan, 
He's  the  Noble — who  advances 

Freedom  and  the  cause  of  man  ! 

SWAIN. 

CHARLES  SWAIN,  ac  English  poet,  born  in  1803.  He  learned  the 
business  of  dyeing,  and  afterwards  became  an  engraver,  then 
author  and  poet. 

1  Engine's,  en'gins.  a  Enfranchised,  en-fran' chlsed. 


II.  THE    WORLD   WE    LIVE    IN. 

|F  you  should  take  a  long  walk  from  the 
city,  town,  or  village  in  which  you  live, 
you  might  see  people,  houses,  streets, 
roads,  fields,  trees,  streams,  ponds,  mills,  fac- 
tories, besides  horses,  cows,  sheep,  and  other 
animals;  perhaps  you  would  see  a  part  of  the 
ocean,  on  which  great  ships  and  steamers  sail. 

2.  The  ocean  and  fields  are  parts  of  the 
earth's  surface.  People,  animals,  trees,  houses, 
ships,  etc.,1  are  on  the  surface.  When  you  see 

1  Etc.,  etcefera,  and  other  things. 


i  o  A  ir —  Wind — A  t  traction. 

flies  on  an  orange,  you  may  say  they  are  on  its 
surface  or  outside  part,  just  as  people  and  ani- 
mals are  on  the  surface  of  the  earth,  which  is 
round  like  an  orange. 

3.  When  you  look  upwards  and  around  you, 
you  may  see  the  sky,  the  sun,  and,  perhaps, 
clouds ;   at  night,  you  may  see  the  moon  and 
stars,  and   other   bodies  called  planets,  which 
look  like  stars. 

4.  All  this  time  you  are  breathing — what? 
Air.     Without   air   you   could    not    live,  nor 
could    any  animal,  bird,  or   fish,  or  tree  live. 
Sometimes  the  air  is  still,  sometimes  it  moves 
gently,  and  you  are  able  to  fly  your  kite  ;  then, 
again,  it  rushes  powerfully  and  fearfully,  blowing 
down  trees,  fences,  and  houses,  and  sinking  ships. 

5.  This  we  call  wind.     You  feel  the  air,  you 
breathe  it,  you  see  the  effects  of  the  wind,  yet 
you  have  never  seen  air  or  wind.     You  admit 
that  there  is  air  and  that  there  is  wind,  although 
both  are  invisible.     What  does  invisible  mean  ? 
Are  houses  and  trees  visible  or  invisible  ? 

6.  Now,  as  the  earth  is  round  (or  very  nearly 
so)  like  a  great  ball,  and  people  travel  or  sail 
around  on  every  part  of  it,  what  is  it  that  keeps 
them  from  falling  off  from  this  great  ball  called 
the  earth  or  the  globe  ?     It  is  something  that  is 
both  useful  and  powerful.     It  is  also  invisible. 


Attraction.  n 

7.  When  you  throw  your  ball  high  in  the  air, 
it  is  brought  back  again  by  something  which 
you  cannot  see,  by  this  other  invisible  power ; 
without  this  power  your  ball  would  never  come 
back  to  you. 

8.  When  chestnuts  are  ripe,  and  when  you 
throw  a  stone  into  an  apple-tree  in  the  autumn, 
the  chestnuts  and   apples  are  brought   to  the 
ground  by  this  same  invisible  power.     Do  you 
know  what  we  call  it  ?    Attraction. 

9.  Without  this  attraction  which  the  earth 
has,  those  chestnuts  and  apples  would  be  as 
likely  to  fly  away  toward  the  moon  or  the  sun 
or  some  of  the  stars  ;  the  farmer  could  not  sow 
his  seed,  for  it  would  be  as  likely  to  fly  toward 
the  clouds  as  to  fall  on  the  ground  ;  the  carpen- 
ter and  the  mason  would  not  be  able  to  keep 
their  boards  and  bricks  just  where  they  wanted 
them ;    the   chairs,   tables,   and   beds  in    your 
houses  would  be  as  likely  to  rest  against  the 
ceiling  as  on  the  floor ;  and  your  sleds  would 
no  longer  rush  down  hill  on  the  smooth  snow 
in  winter. 

10.  Now,  a  knowledge  of  all  such  things,  as 
well  as  of  different  countries,  mountains,  and 
places  on  the  earth,  and  of  the  wonderful  fitness 
of  them  for  people's  enjoyment  and  welfare,  may 
be  obtained  by  studying  geography. 


12    Up  and  Down —  The  Earth  /  it  is  round. 


Blackboard  drawing1  to  illustrate  Up  and  Down.  The  teacher 
may  draw  by  means  of  a  piece  of  cord  twelve  inches  in 
length  a  circle  to  represent  the  earth.  On  it  mark  arrows 
as  shown  in  model,  all  pointing-  to  the  center,  and,  conse- 
quently, Downward ;  then  mark  other  arrows  pointing-  from 
the  center,  or  Upward. 

Another  circle  may  be  similarly  drawn,  and  on  it  trees  be 
represented  all  pointing1  Upward.  The  directions  to  and 
from  the  center,  or  down  and  up,  should  be  clearly  explained 
to  the  class. 

ii.  When  we  look  at  the  sun,  moon,  and 
stars,  we  see  they  are  round ;  and  if.  there  are 
people  living  on  the  moon  now,  they  would 
look  at  this  world  or  earth  and  see  that  it  too  is 
round. 


Blackboard  drawing-  to  show  Rotundity  of  the  Earth.  With 
chalk  and  a  cord  two  feet  long  describe  an  arc  as  here 
shown.  On  the  left  draw  a  part  of  the  coast  of  North  Amer- 


The  Earth  ;  how  it  moves.  1 3 

ica,  with,  a  lighthouse  on  Newfoundland;  on  the  right, 
England,  Ireland,  and  the  coasts  of  Europe  and  Africa. 
From  the  top  of  the  lighthouse  draw  a  straight  line  touch- 
ing the  Arc  or  Surface  of  the  Earth ;  then  show  ships  on 
the  Atlantic  in  different  positions,  one  below  the  horizon, 
another  partly  above,  and  another  wholly  above  it.  The 
straight  line  is  the  Line  of  Vision  to  a  man  in  the  light- 
house, and  the  point  where  that  line  touches  the  arc  or  sur- 
face shows  the  extent  of  his  Horizon.  The  lighthouse  and 
masts  all  point  from  the  center  of  the  Earth.1 

1 2.  The  earth  is  larger  than  the  moon,  the 
sun  is  larger  than  the  earth,  and  some  of  the 
stars  are  larger  than  the  sun. 

13.  The  earth  moves  around  the  sun,  and  the 
moon  moves  around  the  earth.2 

14.  If  the   earth  did  not  move  or  revolve 
around  the  sun,  we  should  have  no  change  of 
seasons. 

15.  The  earth  has  another  motion:  it  turns 
around  as  a  top  spins,  or  as  you  might  turn  an 
apple  around  on  a  knitting-needle.     This  kind 
of  turning  is  called  rotation,  and  causes  change 
from  day  to  night,  and  from  night  to  day. 

1 6.  You  may  see  from  this  picture3  how  day 
and  night  are  caused.     The  lamp  represents  the 
sun,  and  the  apple  represents  the  earth.     The 
sun  gives  light  to  that  side  of  the  earth  which 
is  opposite  it,  as  is  shown  by  the  bright  side  of 

1  Men  have  proved  the  earth  to  be  spherical,  or  round  like  a  ball,  by  sailing 
around  it,  and  by  observing  that  the  hull  or  body  of  a  distant  ship  coming 
toward  them  is  not  seen  as  soon  as  its  topmast. 

3  To  explain  these  motions,  one  of  the  pupils  may  represent  the  sun,  another 
walk  around  him  to  represent  the  earth,  and  a  third  walk  around  the  second, 
to  represent  the  moon. 

3  Picture,  not  pik'ter. 


14  Day  and  Night—  The  Sun. 

the  apple,  which  represents  day.  The  side  turned 
away  from  the  sun  is  dark — there  it  is  night 
If  the  earth  did  not  turn  or  rotate  on  its  axis 
we  would  not  have  night  and  day  as  we  now 
have  them. 


To  be  drawn  on  the  blackboard  to  explain  the  succession  of 
Day  and  Night.  The  lamp  represents  the  Sun ;  the  apple, 
the  Earth ;  the  needle  on  which  the  apple  turns  represents 
the  Axis  of  the  Earth. 

1 7.  When  you  say  the  sun  rises  in  the  east  in 
the  morning,1  it  only  appears  to  rise.  It  is  not 
the  sun  which  moves  from  the  east  upward  and 
nearly  over  your  head,  and  then  down  in  the 
west  in  the  evening.  It  only  appears  to  do  so. 
It  is  really  the  earth,  or  that  part  of  it  on  which 
we  live,  that  moves  around  the  other  way,  to- 
ward the  sun  in  the  morning,  and  away  from  it 
in  the  afternoon ;  that  is,  from  the  west  over  to 
the  east.  When  you  are  on  a  steamboat  sail- 

1  Morning,  morn' ing,  not  mornin. 


The  Sun ;  what  it  gives  us*  1 5 

ing  swiftly  and  smoothly,  the  trees  on  the  shore 
appear  to  move  toward  you,  then  past  and  be- 
hind you,  yet  you  know  it  is  the  steamboat 
that  moves — not  the  trees. 

1 8.  Without  the  sun  we  should  have  no  heat 
or  light.     Would  we  not  have  wood  to  burn 
and  give  us  light  ?    We  would  not ;  for  without 
the  sun's  heat  trees  would  not  grow.     Would 
we  not  have  the  moon  to  shine  for  us  ?     No, 
the  moon  would  not  give  us  light,  for  it  is  the 
sun's  light  on  the  moon  that  makes  it  bright 
and  gives  us  moonlight   nights.     So,  without 
the  sun,  there  would  be  no  light  on  the  earth — 
no  plants,  trees,  animals,  birds,  fishes,  or  people. 

19.  You  have  learned  how  important  are  the 
sun,  air,  and  attraction.     You  will  soon  learn 
about  rain,  how  it  depends  upon  the  sun,  air, 
and   winds,  and   how  they  all  work  together 
beautifully  and  continually  in  order   that   all 
people  may  have  food  to  eat,  water  to  drink, 
and  pleasant  places  to  live  in. 

20.  Suppose  you  should  start  some  pleasant 
morning  in  a  balloon  that  could  move  all  the 
way  around  the  world  before  dark  the  same 
day.     Of  course,  that  has  never  been  done,  for 
the  distance  is  too  great,  but  suppose  it  could 
be  done.     What  would  you  see?     Well,  you 
would  glide  over  an  immense  portion  of  land, 


1 6       Balloon  Voyage  around  the  World. 


Inside  a  flour  mill. 

called  a  continent.  On  this-  continent  you 
would  see  mountains,  hills,  valleys,  rivers, 
lakes,  farms,  and  trees. 

21.  You  might  see  men  at  work  in  the  fields, 
others  building  houses,  or  bridges,  or  railroads ; 
some  busy  in  great  factories1  and  mills  making 
cloth,  shoes,  flour,  tools,  wagons,  and  other  things 
too  numerous  to  mention.  Here  and  there  you 
would  see  cities,  towns,  and  villages,  and,  beyond 
them,  farm-houses,  barns,  etc.,  at  intervals ;  then, 
perhaps,  a  forest,  a  wilderness2  or  wild  place, 
inhabited  only  by  Indians  and  wild  animals ; 
then,  again,  beautiful  valleys,  plains,  streams, 
and  busy  towns  ;  and  all  at  once  you  might 

1  Factories,  fak'to-reez,  not  fak 'trees. 
9  Wilderness,  wiVder-nes,  not  nis. 


Geography.  1 7 

eome  to  a  body  of  water  which  extends  much 
further  than  your  eye  could  reach.  That  great 
body  of  water  is  an  ocean. 

22.  In  the  ocean,  dotted  here  and  there,  you 
might  see  islands,  which  also  contain  trees,  hills, 
lakes,  people,  birds,  animals,  etc.,  all  different  in 
appearance  from  any  you  had  seen  before ;  and 
you  would  wonder  to  find  that,  as  you  rush  so 
rapidly  over  land  and  sea,  some  places  have  clear 
weather ;  others,  cloudy  ;  and  still  others  rainy 
or  stormy,  all  in  the  same  day. 

23.  After  your  return  home,  which  you  would 
be  sure  to  reach  if  your  balloon  kept  in  the  pre- 
cise course  it  started  out  on,  you  would,  prob- 
ably, sit  down  and  write  about  all  the  places, 
people,  etc.,  you  saw :   and,  for  the  instruction 
and  pleasure  of  those  boys  and  girls  who  were 
unable  to  take  such  a  voyage,  you  would,  per- 
haps, fill  a  book  with  your  description  :    that 
would  be  geography,1  which   is  simply  a   de- 
scription of  the  earth's  surface. 

1  Geography,  ge-og'rah-fe,  not  gog'rah-fe. 

Questions  which  the  teacher  may  ask.— Point  to  the  earth's  surface :— When 
do  you  touch  it?  Is  the  bottom  of  a  well  above  or  below  the  earth's  surface  ? 
Mention  something  which  is  above  the  surface.  Point  towards  the  center  of  the 
earth.  Point  up— down.  Why  does  an  apple  fall  from  a  tree  to  the  ground  ? 
Name  some  of  the  benefits  which  we  derive  from  the  air,— from  the  sun,— from 
attraction. 

All  words  in  the  lesson  printed  in  heavy,  black  type  indicate  that  those  places 
or  objects  are  illustrated  on  the  chart  in  front  of  the  book,  or  are  shown  «n  the 
maps  in  their  geographies. 


1 8  Wind— Mists — Daybreak. 


III.    WIND— MISTS— DAYBREAK. 

WIND  came  up  out  of  the  sea, 
And  said,  "  O  mists,  make  room  for  me ! 

It  hailed  the  ships,  and  cried,  "  Sail  on, 
Ye  mariners,  the  night  is  gone." 

And  hurried  landward  far  away, 
Crying,  "  Awake !  it  is  the  day." 

It  said  unto  the  forest,  "  Shout ! 
Hang  all  your  leafy  banners  out !  '* 

It  touched  the  wood-bird's  folded  wing, 
And  said,  "  O  bird,  awake  and  sing !  " 

And  o'er  the  farms,  "  O  chant'icleer, 
Your  clarion  blow  ;  the  day  is  near!  " 

It  whispered  to  the  fields  of  corn, 

"  Bow  down,  and  hail  the  coming  morn  !  " 

It  shouted  through  the  belfry  * -tower, 
"  Awake,  O  bell!  proclaim  the  hour." 

It  crossed  the  churchyard  with  a  sigh, 
And  said,  "  Not  yet !  in  quiet  lie." 

LONGFELLOW. 

HENRY  WADSWORTH  LONGFELLOW,  an  American  poet,  born  in 
Portland,  Maine,  in  1807.  He  graduated  from  Bowdoin  College 
in  which  he  afterwards  became  a  professor. 

1  Belfry,  bel'fre. 


The  Ocean.  19 


IV.    THE   OCEAN. 

|HE  Ocean,  often  called  the  sea,  covers 
three-fourths  of  the  earth's  surface.  Its 
water  is  salt  and  in  constant  motion. 
In  it  live  countless  fishes,  and  on  its  surface 
very  many  ships  sail  from  one  country  to 
another,  carrying  people,  provisions,  clothing, 
and  various  articles  for  use  or  ornament. 

2.  The  ocean  is  useful  to  us  not  only  in  fur- 
nishing fish,  and  as  a  great  highway  for  sailing 
ships  and  steamers.  There  are  many  boys 
and  girls  who  have  never  seen  the  ocean,  or 
eaten  any  of  its  fish,  or  seen  anything  that  was 
brought  in  a  ship.  Lest  they  should  think, 
therefore,  that  the  ocean  is  of  no  use  to  them, 
and  that  it  would  have  been  better  if  the  whole 
surface  of  the  earth  were  laid  out  in  pretty1 
fields,  farms,  and  gardens,  they  should  know 
that  without  the  ocean  no  man,  bird,  or  animal 
could  live  on  the  earth. 

1  Pretty,  prifte, 

Have  you  ever  seen  an  ocean  ?  A  mountain  ?    A  lake  ?  A  river  ?  An  island  ? 

The  teacher  may  ask  the  pupils  to  mention  the  different  articles  of  food  which 
people  require.  If  the  answer  should  be  bread,  then  ask  : 

What  is  bread  made  of,  and  how  ?  What  is  flour  ?  Wheat  ground  hi  ths 
mill.  Where  is  wheat  obtained  ?  It  is  raised  on  a  farm. 

If  others  answer  potatoes  (po-ta'toz  not  tuz),  apples,  milk,  beef,  pork,  etc., 
ask  questions  about  each. 


2O     Rain  —  Voyage  of  a  Drop  of  Water. 

3.  Animals  live  mostly  upon  grass,  vegetables, 
or  grain  of  some  kind,  which  grow  on  the  farms 
and  in  the  fields. 

4.  The   rain   waters  the    fields   and  farms, 
fills   streams,   rivers,   and  lakes,  and  furnishes 
drink  for  men  and  cattle  and  all  creatures1  that 
live  on  the  earth.    When  the  vapor  or  moisture9 
in  the  air  freezes,  it  falls  in  the  form  of  snow. 
When  the  drops  of  rain  freeze  before  they  reach 
the  ground,  they  fall  in  the  form  of  hail. 

5.  From  this  you  may  readily  understand  how 
a  certain   drop  of  water  may  be  changed   to 
vapor,  rise  from  the  ocean,  be  carried  by  the 
winds  far  away  and  over  the  land,  changed  back 
to  water,  fall  on  the  ground,  sink  down  below 
the  surface,  find  its  way  to  a  spring,  reappear  in 
the  overflow,  run  down  a  hillside,  and  become 
part  of  a  rill,  rivulet,3  brook,  or  other  little 
stream.     The  stream  flows  on,  falls  over  steep 


1  Creatures,  kreet'yoors*  2  Moisture,  moisfyoor. 

3  Rivulet,  riv'u-let. 

Would  the  grass,  grain,  and  vegetables  grow  without  rain  ?  Where  does  the 
rain  come  from  ?  The  clouds.  Where  do  the  clouds  come  from  ?  The  ocean. 
How  ?  The  heat  of  the  sun  causes  vapor  to  rise  from  the  ocean,  and  the  wind 
blows  the  va'por  or  clouds  over  the  land,  and  when  they  rise  into  high,  cool  air 
they  fall  in  drops  called  rain. 

What  rises  from  the  ocean  ?  Va'por.  What  causes  it  to  rise  ?  The  sun  and 
air.  What  does  vapor  form  ?  Clouds.  What  drives  vapor  or  clouds  over  the 
land  ?  The  wind.  What  causes  the  clouds  to  return  and  fall  in  the  form  of 
rain?  The  coldness  of  the  air  above  us.  If  you  should  ascend  far  above  the 
earth's  surface  in  a  balloon  or  by  traveling  up  a  high  mountain,  what  difference 
would  you  find  in  the  air?  We  would  find  it  cooler  and  cooler  the  higher  we 

go- 


Vapor — Rain — Snow — Ice.  2 1 

places,  forming  cascades  or  waterfalls, 
turns  mill-wheels,  receives  other  streams, 
becomes  deep  enough  and  wide  enough  to  float 
large  steamboats,  and  at  last  finds  its  way 
into  the  ocean.  Thus  that  little  drop  of  water 
after  a  long  and  curious  journey,  may  return 
to  the  place  it  started  from. 

6.  As  the  land  on  the  earth's  surface  is  higher 
than  the  ocean,  you  all  know  that  the  water  of 
the  ocean  could  not  run  up  and  over  the  land. 

7.  All  of  you  who  have  seen  a  kettle1  or  pot 
of  water  boiling  have  noticed  that  something 
white,  like   smoke,  rose   from  the  top   of  the 
water.     It  was  not  smoke,  but  vapor.     Vapor 
is  the  water  so  thinned  out  by  heat  as  to  become 
light  enough  to  rise  in  the  air.     Have  you  not 
also  seen  the  inside  of  windows2  in  cold  weather 
all  wet  with  drops  ?     The  vapor  coming  near 
the  cold  window  is  only  changed  back  again  to 
water. 

8.  If  any  of  you  should  hold  a  cold  substance, 
such  as  a  pitcher  filled  with  snow,  or  ice,  or 

1  Kettle,  keftl  not  kiftl.  2  Windows,  win'ddz,  not  duz. 

Can  people  live  without  water?  Does  the  water  you  drink  come  from  a 
spring,  well,  lake,  reservoir  (rez'er-vwor),  or  river  ?  From  what  is  the  well, 
spring,  river,  or  lake  supplied  ?  Rain.  From  what  does  rain  come  ?  From 
what  do  clouds  come  ? 

Now,  how  do  the  waters  which  you  find  on  the  land,  even  on  very  high 
iands,  such  as  springs,  rivers,  and  lakes,  get  there  ?  They  are  formed  by  rain 
or  melting  snow.  Where  do  rain  and  snow  come  from  ?  From  vapor  or  cloud§. 
Where  do  vapor  and  clouds  come  from  >  The  ocean.. 


22  Evaporation  and  Condensation. 

cold  water,  over  boiling  water,  you  would  see 
the  vapor  rise,  and  as  soon  as  it  touched  the 
cold  surface  of  the  pitcher  it  would  be  changed 
into  drops.  That  is  the  way  rain  is  formed. 

9.  Now  if  you  should  watch  the  vapor  as  it 
rises  from  the  ocean,  and  is  carried  by  the  wind 
over  the  land,  you  might  see  it  enter  the  air 
that  is  cooled  by  cold  mountains.     As  cool  air 
cannot  hold    as   much  vapor    or    moisture    as 
warm,  dry  air,  some  of  the  moisture  falls  in  the 
form  of  rain.     That   which  falls  on  the  land 
waters  the  fields  and  farms,  and  fills  the  streams 
and  lakes.     (See  chart  on  pages  2  and  3.) 

10.  The  ocean  then,  supplies  or  fills  all  the 
lakes,  ponds,  rivers,  and  streams  ;  every  drop  of 
water  on  the  surface  or  under  the  surface  of  the 
land,  on  the  mountain 1  top  or  in  the  deepest 
valleys  ;  all  the  water  of  the  wells  and  springs ; 
all  the  moisture  which  floats  in  the  air ;  and  all 
rain,  snow,  hail,  or  dew. 

11.  If  you  should  boil  a  kettle  of  salt  water, 
the  vapor  passing  off  would  be  fresh.     This  you 

'  Mountain,  mounfin,  not  tane  or  ton. 

Is  the  water  of  the  ocean  salt  or  fresh  ?  Salt.  Is  the  water  of  rain,  lakei. 
rivers,  and  snow  salt  or  fresh  ?  Fresh. 

If  these  are  all  supplied  from  the  salt  ocean,  why  are  they  fresh  ?  Because 
when  vapor  rises  from  the  ocean,  the  salt,  too  heavy  to  rise,  remains  behind. 

From  what  besides  the  ocean  does  vapor  rise  ?  From  lakes,  rivers,  pond§, 
and  wet  ground. 

Poes  vapor  rise  from  a  cup  of  water  ?    It  does.. 


Evaporation  and  Condensation.          23 

may  prove  by  conducting  the  vapor  through  a 
tube 1  or  pipe  cold  enough  to  condense  or  change 
the  vapor  back  again  to  water ;  this  water  wil] 
be  fresh. 


Drawing  for  the  blackboard  explaining-  evaporation  and  con- 
densation ;  also,  how  fresh  water  may  be  procured  from,  salt 
water,  by  conducting:  vapor  through  a  pipe  that  is  kept  cold. 

1 2.  The  changing  of  water  into  vapor  is  called 
evaporation.    The  changing  of  vapor  into  water 
is  called  condensation. 

13.  The  words  ocean  and  sea  are  often  used 
to  refer  to  the  whole  body  of  salt  water  on  the 
earth,  which  may  be  considered  as  divided  into 

1  Tube,  tube  not  toob. 

The  teacher  may  now  draw  on  the  blackboard  this  picture,  of  a  size  suffi- 
ciently large  to  be  seen  by  the  whole  class ;  or,  the  drawings  which  enter  into 
a  certain  day's  lesson  may  be  previously  prepared  on  the  blackboard. 

If  you  were  at  sea  and  without  drinking-water,  how  could  you  obtain  it  ?  By 
boiling  the  salt  water  in  a  kettle  and  conducting  the  vapor  into  a  cold  pitcher  or 
bowl,  or  through  a  pipe  kept  constantly  cold.  What  becomes  of  the  salt  in  the 
process  of  evaporation  ?  It  remains  behind  in  the  kettle. 

Suppose  that  the  salt  should  rise  from  the  ocean  with  the  vapor  ;  what  would 
the  rain  be,  fresh  or  salt  ?  If  rain  were  salt,  what  effect  would  it  have  on  our 
grass,  trees,  grain,  and  flowers? 


A  Storm  at  Sea. 


Dangers  on  the  Ocean. 


five  parts,  also  called  oceans.  There  are  five 
oceans.  Their  names  are  Pacific  Ocean, 
Atlantic  Ocean,  Indian  Ocean,  Arctic 
Ocean,  Antarctic  Ocean. 

14.  If  you  should  cross 
the  ocean,  you  would  see 
nothing  about  your  ship 
but  the  water  and  the 
sky ;  and,  as  the  vessel 
would  cut  through  the 
great  rolling  waves,  it 
would  go  up  and  down 
like  a  rocking-chair.  In 
a  storm,  however,  the 
waves  rise  terribly  high 
and  beat  over  the  ship, 
which  tumbles  and 
plunges  and  rolls  violently,1  sometimes  nearly 


Signaling  for  Help. 


1  Violently,  vi'o,  not  vi'a. 

Which  of  these  would  you  cross  in  sailing  from  the  United  States  to  Europe? 
Why  do  steamships  and  other  vessels  cross  the  ocean  ?  To  carry  passengers, 
also  articles  which  are  grown  or  manufactured  here. 

Do  those  vessels  return  empty  ?  They  bring  back  articles  which  are  raised 
or  made  in  Europe,  Asia,  or  Africa  ;  they  bring  passengers  also. 

Can  you  name  some  things  which  are  sent  from  this  country  across  the 
Atlantic  Ocean  ?  Flour,  wheat,  cotton,  provisions,  oil,  and  tobacco  (to-bak'ko 
not  ka  or  ker). 

Can  you  mention  some  articles  we  receive  from  Europe?  Materials  for 
making  dresses  and  all  kinds  of  cloths,  besides  knives  and  toys. 

What  do  ships  from  South  America  bring  to  this  country  ?  Coffee  and  India- 
rubber. 

What  do  we  get  from  China  and  Japan  ?    Tea,  fans,  and  many  fancy  articles. 

How  long  does  it  take  steamships  to  cross  the  Atlantic  from  this  country  to 
Europe  ?  About  ten  days. 


2  6  Whales ;  how  Captured. 

covered  over  with  the  waves.  Then  the  passen- 
gers must  go  down  stairs  or  they  would  be 
washed  overboard.  Besides  this  there  is  danger 
of  one  ship  running  into  another  at  night  or 
against  an  iceberg,  or  of  the  ship  taking  fire. 

15.  To  capture  whales  men  spend  many 
months  on  long,  cold  voyages,  and  we  fre- 
quently hear  of  ships  being  crushed  by  icebergs 
or  by  fields  of  ice,  and  the  crews  frozen  or 
starved  to  death.  All  this  is  for  what  purpose  ? 
To  get  oil  and  whalebone  from  the  whale. 
When  the  whalemen  see  a  whale  they  hurry  out 
of  their  ship  and  row  in  open  boats  towards 
him,  and  when  near  enough,  one  of  the  men 
throws  a  kind  of  dart  or  spear,  called  a  harpoon, 
with  all  his  might  into  the  whale.  The  huge 


Did  you  ever  see  a  steamship?  What  is  the  difference  between  a  steamship 
and  a  sailing  vessel  ? 

What  is  an  iceberg  ?  A  great  mass  of  floating  ice  reaching  far  above  and 
below  the  surface  of  the  water.  Icebergs  come  from  the  cold  regions  of  the 
Arctic  Ocean  and  northern  parts  of  North  America. 

Do  men  ever  sail  into  these  cold  dangerous  regions,  where  they  are  con- 
stantly surrounded  by  ice  and  icebergs?  They  do.  Why?  To  find  a  new 
passage  across  the  Arctic  Ocean,  or  to  reach  the  most  northerly  part  of  the 
earth,  called  the  North  Pole. 

What  dangers  attend  these  voyages?  Some  ships  have  been  crushed  by 
fields  of  ice  or  by  icebergs,  and  the  crews  perished  from  hunger  and  cold. 
Mention  a  celebrated  English  explorer  who  was  lost  in  the  Arctic  regions  ? 
Sir  John  Franklin. 

In  1845,  Sir  John  Franklin  left  England  with  two  ships  and  fine  crews,  to 
reach  Asia  (a'she-a)  by  way  of  Baffin  Bay  and  the  Arctic  Ocean.  Himself,  his 
officers  and  crew  ot  over  130  men,  all  perished. 

How  do  natives  and  explorers  in  the  Arctic  regions  travel  over  the  ice  and 
snow  ? .  In  sledges  drawn  by  dogs. 

What  huge  animals  (often,  but  improperly,  called  fish)  are  captured  in  the 
water  of  the  cold  regions?  Whales.  You  can  know  them  far  off  by  the  two 
fountains  or  streams  of  water  which  they  blow  into  the  air. 


Whales ;  how  Captured.  27 

creature  becomes  furious,  and  the  men  must  look 
sharp  to  keep  out  of  his  way  and  to  let  out  the 
Jong  rope  which  is  fastened  to  the  harpoon,  else 
their  boat  may  be  dashed  to  pieces  or  pulled  far 
under  the  water  in  an  instant. 

1 6.  Many  whales  are  killed  by  means  of  har- 
poons and  bombs  fired  from  cannons  which  the 
ships  carry  with  them.  When  a  ship  arrives  in 
the  vicinity  of  a  whaling  ground,  a  lookout  is 
stationed  at  the  masthead.  As  soon  as  a  whale 
is  discovered,  the  boats  are  lowered  and  each 
crew  exerts  its  utmost  strength  to  reach  him 
first.  In  the  bow 1  sits  the  harpooner,  who  at  the 
proper  moment,  seizes  the  harpoon  with  one 
hand  and  the  coil  of  rope  with  the  other ;  and 
as  he  nears  or  touches  the  whale,  hurls  his  har- 
poon with  all  his  strength  and  cries  out  "  Stern 
all."  The  crew  instantly  backs  the  boat,  and 
the  whale  in  his  terror  plunges  and  dives  with 
such  velocity,  that  water  must  be  constantly 
poured  upon  the  rope  to  keep  it  from  setting 
the  boat  on  fire  by  its  friction.2  Every  time  the 
whale  rises,  which  he  must  do  at  least  once  or 
twice  every  hour  in  order  to  breathe,  the  boats 
rush  at  him  and  the  men  strike  him  again  and 
again  with  harpoons  and  lances. 

1  Bow,  bou,  the  prow  or  forward  part  of  a  ship  or  boat 

2  Friction,  frik'shun,  the  act  or  effect  of  rubbing. 


28  Whalebone — Oil—  Walrus. 

1 7.  After  a  while  the  whale  dies  and  floats  at 
the  top  of  the  water.     Then  the  men  jump  on 
him  and  cut  out  great  quantities  of  the  fat  which 
is  found  right    under  the  surface  of  the  skin. 
They   afterwards  boil   the  fat,  called    blubber, 
and  make  it  into  oil,  which  they  take  home  in 
barrels.1 

1 8.  The  whalebone,  which  is  obtained  from 
the  inside  of  the  upper  jaw,  is  colored  and  pre- 
paied  for  use.     The  whale  is  always  in  the  water, 
and  is  the  largest  of  all  animals. 

19.  There  is  a  very  large  animal  called  the 
wal'rus  which  lives  in  the  Arctic  regions  and 
is  always   found  on  the  coast   very  near  the 
water.   Walruses  are  excellent  swimmers,  but  are 
very  slow  and  awkward  in  their  movements  on 
shore.   When  disturbed  they  make  loud  roarings. 
Their  length  is  about  fifteen  feet.     They  are 
captured  for  their  tusks  of  ivory,  their  skin  and 
fat.     They  often   have   terrific   com'bats  with 
white  or  polar  bears.     When  suspecting  an  at- 
tack, they  designate  one  or  more  of  their  number 
to  act  as  guards  while  the  others  sleep.     They 
defend  themselves  bravely,  carrying  off  their 
helpless  young  or  their  wounded  companions 
with  their  fore  paws.2 

1  Barrel,  bdr'rel,  not  bdrl.  8  Paws,  paivz,  not  paurz. 


The  Seal — Its  Uses.  29 


The  Walrus. 

20.  There  are  other  animals  called  seals  living 
in  or  near  the  water,  which  are  captured  in  very 
large  numbers  every  year  in  the  cold  regions. 

21.  The  seal  is  about  two  yards  long.     It 
has  two  fore  paws,  with  which  it  paddles  in  the 
water  or  pulls  itself  along  on  the  ice  or  the 
shore.     Its  hinder1  limbs  serve   only  to  steer 
and  scull  with.    Its  head  resembles  that  of  a  dog. 

1  Hinder,  hln'der. 

For  what  is  whalebone  useful  ?  How  long  do  you  think  a  whale  is  ?  The 
larger  ones  are  about  20  to  30  yards  long  and  10  yards  around  the  body. 

Here  show  these  distances  by  comparing  with  your  school-house,  room,  or 
some  other  object. 

Whales  live  mostly  in  the  Arctic  and  Antarctic  regions. 

They  usually  come  to  the  surface  of  the  water  about  every  ten  minutes, 
remaining  there  about  two  minutes,  during  which  they  blow  eight  or  nine  times 
and  then  descend.  They  feed  swimming  just  below  the  surface,  with  their  huge 
mouths  wide  open.  Often,  the  whole  length  of  line  let  out  is  more  than  1,200 
feet.  The  thickness  of  their  blubber  is  from  6  to  24  inches. 

For  what  are  seals  captured  ?  Their  fur.  After  the  long,  coarse  hairs  are 
plucked  out,  the  soft,  short  fur  is  dyed  and  then  made  into  beautiful  coats  worn 
mostly  by  ladies. 

Seals,  when  in  the  water,  must  come  to  the  surface  at  least  every  half  hour  to 
breathe. 


The  Seal— Its  Uses. 


Seal,  6  feet  in  length.  Porpoise,  6  to  8  feet  in  length. 

Shark,  12  feet  in  length. 

Make  blackboard  drawing-  of  seal  and  porpoise,  each  2  feet  long 
by  6  inches  wide ;  of  shark  4  feet  long  by  10  inches  wide. 
The  shark  is  twice  as  long  as  the  seal,  and  the  whale  is  five 
times  as  long  as  the  shark.  (One-third  of  actual  length.) 

22.  In  Greenland,  where  the  cold  is  too  se- 
vere for  trees,  plants,  and  fruits  to  grow  as  they 
do  in  our  country,  many  of  the  people  depend 
upon  the  seal  for  almost  everything :  its  flesh 
they  use  for  food,  of  its  skin  they  make  their 
clothing,  tents,  and  boats,  and  its  fat  furnishes 
them  with  oil  for  fuel  and  light. 

23.  The  seal  is  found  on  coasts  and  islands  in 
many  parts  of  the  world,  but  especially  in  the 
cold  regions.    Around  Alaska,  Greenland, 
and  Newfoundland  thousands  are  captured 
every  year. 

The  seal  is  amphib'ious,  because  it  can  live  in  water  or  on  land;  it  is 
quad'ruped,  because  it  has  four  paws  or  legs  ;  like  the  whale,  it  is  carnivorous, 
because  it  eats  fish  and  the  flesh  of  animals  ;  it  is  grega'rious,  because  it  lives 
with  others,  in  herds ;  it  is  mi'gra-to-ry,  because  it  moves  from  one  part  of  the 
ocean  to  another ;  and  it  is  a  mam'mal,  because  it  suckles  its  young. 

Alaska  was  purchased  from  Russia  by  the  United  States  for  seven  millions  of 
dollars.  It  is  noted  for  seals  and  fish. 


Porpoise —  Cod — Mackerel— Herring.    31 

24.  The  different  species  of  the  seal  include 
the  sea-lion,  sea-elephant,  sea-leopard,  sea-bear, 
and  the  walrus. 

25.  The  porpoise  is  very  much  like  the  seal. 
It  is  captured  for  its  oil,  flesh,  and  skin. 


Spearing  a  Porpoise.    Coast  of  Maine. 

26.  Cod,  mack'er-el,  herring,  and  halibut  are 
caught  in  immense  numbers  near  the  coasts  of 
New  England,  Labrador,  and  Newfoundland. 
When  salted  and  cured  they  are  exported  to 
nearly  every  part  of  the  world. 


Cod — Mackerel — Halibut. 


Halibut,  4  feet  in  length.          Flying-fish,  6  inches. 
Sword-fish,  16  feet.  Mackerel,  15  inches. 

On  the  blackboard  make  the  drawings  full  or  life  size. 


27.  On  the  shoals  or  shallow  places  are  the 
banks  of  Newfoundland,  where,  during  several 
months  in  the  year,  you  may  see  hundreds  of 
boats  and  thousands  of  men  of  different  nations, 
engaged  in  fishing. 

28.  A  codfish  of  the  ordinary  size  is  about 
two  feet  in  length.     The  mackerel  is  about  15 
inches  in  length.     It  is  caught  by  hook  and 
line,  and  by  a  seine1  or  net.     It  is  salted  in  bar- 
rels.    The  halibut  is  a  larger  fish,  measuring 
from  3  to  6  feet  in  length.     Curiously,  both  its 
eyes  are  on  the  same  side  of  its  head. 

1  Seine,  seen. 

Abundant,  also  off  the  east  coast  of  the  United  States,  are  the  Spanish  mack- 
erel, blue-fish,  and  tile-fish,  all  valuable  for  food.  The  latter  is  a  recent  dis- 
covery. The  menha'den  is  valuable  for  oil  obtained  from  it. 

In  what  part  of  North  America  is  Greenland  ?    Alaska  ?    Newfoundland  ? 

Is  Newfoundland  surrounded  by  water  ?  What  is  it,  therefore  ?  An  island. 
By  what  water  is  it  surrounded  ?  Mention  other  kinds  of  fishes. 


Fly  ing-Fish — Sword-Fish —  C  u  t tie-Fish.  3  3 

29.  Did  you  ever  see  flying  fish  ?     They  are 
found  in  the  Mediterranean  Sea,  the  Gulf 
of   Mexico,1  and  warm  parts   of  the  ocean. 
Their  long  fins  enable  them  to  fly  out  of  the 
water  as  high  as  the  decks  of  ships,  on  which 
they  sometimes  fall.     Their  length  is  about  ten 
inches. 

30.  Another  singular  fish  is  the  sword-fish,  1 2 
to  20  feet  in  length.    It  is  so  fierce,  and  so  swift 
in  motion,  that  it  drives  its  sword,  a  long,  sharp, 
bony  substance,  into  a  fish  which  it  wishes  to 
capture.     It  has  been  known  to  attack  a  ship 
and  bury  its  weapon 2  deep  in  the  timbers. 

31.  Here  is  still  another  very  curious  fish.    It 
is  a  cuttle-fish,  which  has  eight  long  arms  for 
seizing   other  creatures  which   it  captures   for 
food.     When  pursued,  it  discolors  the  water  all 
about  it  with  an  inky  substance,  which  enables 
it  to  conceal  itself  and  escape  from  its  enemy.3 

32.  Among  the   fish  which   men  and  boys 
delight  to  catch,  are  the  pike  and  trout.     The 
pike,  which  is  about  2  feet  long  and  3  inches 

1  The  black-faced  type  throughout  the  book  are  to  remind  pupils 
,o  find  the  places  on  the  maps  in  their  geographies. 

2  Weapon,  wep'on,  8  Enemy,  2n'e-me,  not  en'a. 

The  sword-fish  is  found  in  the  Atlantic  Ocean  and  the  Mediterranean  Sea. 

Do  fishes  breathe  air  ?  They  do.  Do  they  come  to  the  surface  of  the  water 
for  air,  as  whales,  seals,  and  porpoises  do  ?  They  do  not.  Where  do  they  find 
air  to  breathe  ?  In  the  water.  Does  all  water  contain  air  ?  It  does.  Fishes 
have  gills ;  animals,  lungs  to  breathe  with.  The  blood  of  fishes  is  cold,  while 
that  of  animals  is  warm.  Where  is  the  Mediterranean  Sea  ?  Gulf  of  Mexico  ? 


34         Pike —  Trout — Shad — Sardines. 


Trout,  16  inches  in  length.  Pike,  3  feet. 

Codfish,  2  feet.  Cuttle-fish. 

wide,  is  caught  in  streams  and  lakes,  and  is 
delicious  for  the  table.  The  trout  averages 
about  1 6  inches  in  length.  It  is  caught  by  hook 
and  line  in  the  streams  of  the  New  England, 
Middle,  and  Western  States,  and  Canada.  It 
is  usually  found  in  swiftly-running  streams, 
swimming  against  the  current. 

33.  A  very  fine  fish  which  comes  from  the 
south  in  the  spring,  entering  the  rivers  and  in- 
lets of  the  States  along  the  Atlantic  Coast,  is 
the  shad. 

34.  You  may  have  seen  enclosed  in  tin  boxes 
and  packed  in  olive1  oil  a  great  many  very  small 
fishes.    Do  you  know  their  name  ?    Sardines? 
They   are   caught   in    large   quantities   in   the 
Atlantic  Ocean  and  the  Mediterranean  Sea. 

1  Olive,  dl'tv,  an  oil  obtained  from  the  fruit  of  the  olive  tree,  which 
grows  in  warm  climates. 

2  Sardines,  sd/deenst  so  called  from  the  island  of  Sardinia. 


The  Salmon.  35 


A  Salmon. 

35.  Among  the  most  highly  prized  of  all  the 
fishes,  as  an  article  of  food,  is  the  salmon.1     Its 
flesh  is  eaten  fresh,  salted,  dried,  and  pickled.2 
It  is  found  in  the  northern  waters  of  North 
America,  Europe,  and  Asia,  from  which  it  en- 
ters the  rivers,  ascending  during  a  flood,  at  the 
rate  of  25  miles  a  day.     It  is  remarkable  for  its 
strength  and  perseverance  in  surmounting  cas- 
cades ;   in  doing   this,  it   has  been  known  to 
spring  14  feet  out  of  the  water  and  to  describe 
a  curve  of  over  20  feet  in  length. 

36.  Many  streams  of  Can'ada  abound  with 
salmon,   and   the    fisheries    on   the   Columbia 
River,  north  of  Oregon,  are  the  most  profitable 
in  the  world. 

1  Salmon,  sam'un, 

2  Pickled,  pl&ld,  preserved  in  salt,  vinegar,  water,  ancf  some- 
times seasoned  with  spices. 


Oysters — Pearls. 


Indians  Spearing  Salmon  on  the  Columbia  River. 

37.  The  length  of  a  salmon  is  about  three 
feet,  but  sometimes  one  is  caught  weighing  60  or 
70  pounds,  which  is  very  much  larger. 

38.  There  is  a  kind  of  fish  found  or  caught  in 
salt  water  called  shell-fish,  such  as  oysters,  clams, 
crabs,  and  lobsters.     These  are  found  near  the 
shore  in  great  quantities.     Oysters  are  usually 
found  adhering  to  rocks  or  in  the  sand  in  salt 
water.     Do  any  of  you  know  what  kind  of  a 
jewel,  worn  extensively  by  ladies,  is  found  in 
some  oysters  ?     The  pearL 


Pearls —  Coral — Sponge.  3  7 

39.  Pearls  are  obtained  by  divers.    Divers  do 
not  always  go  down  head  first.     Sometimes  one 
is  lowered  by  a  rope,  on  the  end  of  which  a  stone 
is  fastened  to  help  him  to  sink.     With  his  feet 
upon  this  stone  and  one  hand  holding  on  to 
the  rope,  the  diver  collects  as  many  of  the  pearl- 
oysters  as  he  can  in  a  minute  or  half-minute, 
when  he  must  ascend  to  breathe. 

40.  There  are  pretty  ornaments  made  from 
the  skeletons  or  kind  of  bony  substance  of  small 
creatures  which  have  died  in  the  ocean  in  such 
large    numbers   as  gradually  to    form   islands. 
What  is  that  substance  ?     Cor'al.     This  is  also 
obtained  by  divers.     The  finest  is  of  a  rose-pink 
color,  and  is  found  chiefly  near  Italy. 

41.  Sponge  is  also  the  skeletons  of  what  were 
once  living  creatures.     It  is  very  soft,  and  it 
adheres  to  rocks,  shells,  etc.,  under  water.     It 
looks  like  a  sea  plant. 


Pearls  are  beautiful  and  expensive,  especially  those  as  large  as  peas  and 
larger.  Philip  II.,  King  of  Spain,  had  one  which  was  valued  at  $75,000,  and  it 
is  said  that  those  in  the  ear-drops  of  Cleopatra,  the  celebrated  Queen  of  Egypt, 
were  valued  at  $400,000. 

Among  the  most  famous  pearl  fisheries  are  those  near  Ceylon  and  the  east 
coast  of  Hindoostan'.  Pearls  have  been  found  also  near  Japan,  Java,  Sumatra, 
and  in  the  Persian  Gulf  and  the  Bay  of  Panama/ 

Mother-of-pearl  is  the  inside  lining  of  the  shells.  It  is  extensively  used  for 
making  buttons,  knife-handles,  and  for  ornamenting  boxes,  furniture,  etc. 

A  flourishing  business  has  long  been  carried  on  in  the  manufacture  and  sale 
of  coral  ornaments  in  the  Italian  cities  of  Naples,  Leghorn',  and  Gen'oa. 

These  divers  for  pearls  and  corals,  when  in  the  water,  often  see  curious  and 
frightful  creatures,  some  of  which  are  very  dangerous. 

For  what  is  sponge  useful  ?  Pieces  of  sponge,  coral,  and  whalebone  may  be 
shown  to  the  class. 


A  Tempest  at  Sea. 


V.    A  TEMPEST    AT    SEA. 


THE  sky  was  per- 
fectly serene ;  there 
was  nothing  but  a 
few  coppery  clouds, 
like  reddish  vapor, 
to  be  seen,  which 
scudded  across  the 
heavens  faster  than  a 
bird  could  fly.  But 
the  sea  was  furrowed 
by  five  or  six  long, 

Ship  in  Distress—Passengers  Rescued.       high      WaVCS,     like     a 

By  means  of  a  rope  fired  from  a  mortar  or  chain     of    hills     SCDa- 
cannon,  as  shown  on  page  24,  and  fastened  to 

the  ship,  a  kind  of  rope  suspension  bridge  is  rated  by  broad,  deep 

established.     With  the  aid  of  this  rope,  pas-  .. 

sengers  are  brought  safely  ashore.  Valleys. 


A   Tempest  at  Sea.  39 

2.  The  wind  blew  the  summits  of  these  waves  into 
foam  ;  most  to  be  dreaded  were  the  overhanging  heads 
of  these  waves,  which,  pushed  forward  by  the  force 
of  the  wind,   rolled  back  thundering  and  foaming, 
ready  to  engulf  the  largest  vessel  if  it  should  come 
within  their  reach.     The  condition  of  our  ship,  to- 
gether with  that  of  the  sea,  rendered  our  situation 
frightful. 

3.  The  main-mast  had  been  shattered  by  lightning 
in  the  night,  and  the  miz'zen-mast,  on  which  was  our 
only  sail,  had  been  carried  away  by  the  wind  in  the 
morning.     The  vessel  no  longer  obeying  the  helm,1 
floated  at  the  mercy  of  the  wind  and  wave. 

4.  I    was    on    the  quarter-deck,    clinging    to    the 
mizzen  shrouds,  endeavoring  to  realize  the  terrible 
spectacle.     When  we  approached  one  of  these  moun- 
tain waves,  the  summit  was  on  a  level  with  our  top'- 
masts,  that  is,  more  than  fifty  feet  above  our  heads. 

5.  When  the  base  of  this  frightful  wall  passed  un- 
der our  vessel,  it  careen'ed  until  the  main  yards  were 
half  under  the  water,  which  reached  to  the  foot  of 
the  mast,  and  we  were  on  the  verge  of  foundering. 
And  when  rising  on  the  crest  of  the  wave,  it  righted 
again  suddenly,  only  to  descend  on  the  other  side, 
the  danger  was  not   lessened,  and  the  water  rushed 
beneath  the  vessel  as  swiftly  as  through  a  sluice,2  like 
a  sheet  of  foam. 

6.  We  could  neither  give,  nor  receive,  the  consola- 
tions of  friendship.     The  violence  of  the  wind  was 
so  great,  that  not  a  word  could  be  heard,  even  though 

v^""U  B'J 
Helm,  helm,  not  hel'lem.  2  Sluice,  Moos.        Of 


4O  The  Rainy  Day. 

shouted  directly  in  the  ear.  The  air  carried  away 
our  voices,  and  nothing  could  be  distinguished  but 
the  sharp  whistling 1  of  the  wind  through  the  yards 
and  rigging,  and  the  booming  of  the  waves,  which 
resembled  the  howlings  of  ferocious  beasts.  Thus 
we  hovered  between  life  and  death,  from  sunrise  to 

sunset. 

"  HARMONIES  OF  NATURE." 


VI.    THE   RAINY    DAY. 

|HE  day  is  cold,  and  dark,  and  dreary; 
It  rains,  and  the  wind  is  never  weary; 
The  vine  still  clings  to  the  moldering  wall. 
But  at  every  gust  the  dead  leaves  fall, 
And  the  day  is  dark  and  dreary. 

My  life  is  cold,  and  dark,  and  dreary ; 
It  rains,  and  the  wind  is  never  weary ; 
My  thoughts  still  cling  to  the  moldering  past, 
But  the  hopes  of  youth  fall  thick  in  the  blast, 
And  the  days  are  dark  and  dreary. 

Be  still,  sad  heart !  and  cease  repining ; 
Behind  the  clouds  is  the  sun  still  shining; 
Thy  fate  is  the  common  fate  of  all, 
Into  each  life  some^  rain  must  fall, 
Some  days  must  be  dark  and  dreary. 

LONGFELLOW. 

1  Whistling,  whis'ling. 

How  deep  do  you  think  the  ocean  is  ?  You  ?  and  you  ?  etc.  The  highest 
trees  (those  in  California)  and  church  steeples  in  this  country  are  about  300  feet 
high.  How  many  of  these,  one  on  top  of  another,  would  reach  from  the  bottom 
of  the  ocean  to  the  top  or  surface  ?  Forty. 


A  Rain-Dream. 


VIL    A   RAIN-DREAM. 

|HO  is  not  awed  that  listens1  to  the  rain, 
Sending  his  voice  before  him?  Mighty  Rain ! 
The  upland  steeps  are  shrouded  by  thy  mists ; 
Thy  shadow  fills  the  hollow  vale ;  the  pools 
No  longer  glimmer,  and  the  silvery  streams 
Darken  to  veins2  of  lead  at  thy  approach. 

O  mighty  Rain !  already  thou  art  here  ; 
And  every  roof  is  beaten  by  thy  streams, 
And,  as  thou  passest,  every  glassy  spring 
Grows  rough,  and  every  leaf  in  all  the  woods 
Is  struck,  and  quivers. 

All  the  hill-tops  slake 

Their  thirst  from  thee  ;  a  thousand  languishing  fields, 
A  thousand  fainting  gardens,  are  refreshed  ; 
A  thousand  idle  rivulets  start  to  speed. 

Thou  fill'st  the  circle  of  the  atmosphere 
Alone ;  there  is  no  living  thing  abroad, 
No  bird  to  wing  the  air  nor  beast  to  walk 
The  field ;  the  squirrel  in  the  forest  seeks 
His  hollow  tree  ;  the  marmot  of  the  field 
Has  scampered  to  his  den ;  the  butterfly 
Hides  under  her  broad  leaf;  the  insect  crowds, 
That  made  the  sunshine  populous,  lie  close 
In  their  sump'-tu-ous  shelters,  whence  the  sun 
Will  summon  them  again. 

1  Listens,  lis'ns.  2  Veins,  vanes. 


42  A  Rain-Dream. 

I  shut  my  eyes,  and  see,  as  in  a  dream, 
The  friendly  clouds  drop  down  spring  violets 
And  summer  col'umbines,  and  all  the  flowers 
That  tuft  the  woodland  floor,  or  overarch 
The  streamlet : — spiky1  grass  for  genial  June, 
Brown  harvests  for  the  waiting  husbandman, 
And  for  the  woods  a  deluge2  of  fresh  leaves. 

I  see  these  myr'iad  drops  that  slake  the  dust, 
Gathered  in  glorious  streams     *     *     *     * 
*     *     #     *     #     *     j  behold  them  change 
To  threads  of  crystal  as  they  sink  in  earth 
And  leave  its  stains  behind  to  rise  again 
In  pleasant  nooks  of  verd'ure,  where  the  child, 
Thirsty  with  play,  with  both  his  little  hands 
Shall  take  the  cool,  clear  water,  raising  it 
To  wet  his  pretty  lips. 

To-morrow  noon 

How  proudly  will  the  water-lily  ride 
The  brimming  pool,  o'erlooking,  like  a  queen, 
Her  circle  of  broad  leaves  ! 

All  through  the  starless  hours,  the  mighty  rain 
Smites  with  perpetual  sound  the  forest-leaves ; 
And  beats  the  matted  grass,  and  still  the  earth 
Drinks  the  unstinted  bounty  of  the  clouds — 
Drinks  for  her  cottage  wells,  her  woodland  brooks — 
Drinks  for  the  springing  trout,  the  toiling  bee, 
And  brooding  bird — drinks  for  the  tender  flowers, 
Tall  oaks,  and  all  the  herbage  of  her  hills. 

WILLIAM  CULLEN  BRYANT. 

1  Spiky,  sptke'e.  2  Deluge,  defuge,  not  ooge. 


Three  Fishers  went  Sailing.  43 


VIII.     THREE    FISHERS    WENT    SAILING. 

|HREE  fishers  went  sailing  out  into  the  West, 

Out  into  the  West  as  the  sun  went  down  ; 
Each  thought  on  the  woman  who  loved  him 

best, 
And  the  children  stood   watching  them  out  of  the 

town : 

For  men  must  work,  and  women  must  weep, 
And  there's  little  to  earn,  and  many  to  keep, 
Though  the  harbor-bar  be  moaning. 

Three  wives  sat  up  in  the  light-house  tower, 

And  they  trimmed  the  lamps  as  the  sun  went  down ; 
They  looked  at  the  squall,  and  they  looked  at  the 

shower, 
And  the  night-rack  came  rolling  up  ragged  and 

brown  ; 

But  men  must  work,  and  women  must  weep, 
Though  storms  be  sudden,  and  waters  deep, 
And  the  harbor-bar  be  moaning. 

Three  corpses  lie  out  in  the  shining  sands, 

In  the  morning  gleam,  as  the  tide  went  down, 
And  the  women  were  weeping  and  wringing  their 

hands, 

For  those  who  will  never  come  home  to  the  town. 
For  men  must  work,  and  women  must  weep, 
And  the  sooner  it's  over,  the  sooner  to  sleep, 

And  good-bye  to  the  bar  and  its  moaning. 

KlNGSLEY. 

CHARLES  KINGSLEY,  an  English  Clergyman  and  Author,  born 
in  1819. 


44 


Cod-Fishing. 


IX,     COD-FISHING. 


Fishing  on  the  Banks  of  Newfoundland. 

1CCUSTOMED  from  childhood  to  brave 
the  hardships  of  a  most  rig'orous  cli- 
mate, in  navigating  their  frail  schoon- 
ers1 amid  tempest,  ice  and  fog,  the  inhabitants 
of  Newfoundland  have  developed  into  one  of 
the  finest  seafaring  populations  on  the  face  of 
the  globe.  Nowhere  can  better  mariners  be 
found. 

2.  The  principal  industry  of  Newfoundland  is 
the  cod-fishery,  and  the  chief  center  of  the  trade 

1  Schooners,  skoon'ers,  vessels  usually  carrying  two  masts. 


Cod-Fishing.  45 

is  at  St.  John's,  its  capital  where  the  process  of 
packing  and  shipping  the  salted  fish  may  be 
witnessed  to  perfection.  The  fish,  having  been 
dried  on  stages  or  platforms  erected  for  the 
purpose  on  the  shores  of  every  bay  and  inlet 
of  the  island,  are  brought  to  St.  John's  in  small 
schooners  and  thrown  in  heaps  upon  the 
wharves.1  There  they  are  culled2  and  sorted 
into  piles  according  to  their  quality. 

3.  Women  with  hand-barrows  attend  upon  the 
cullers,  carry  the  fish  into  an  adjoining  shed,  and 
upset  their  loads  beside  barrels  standing  ready 
to  receive  them.     A  couple  of  boys  throw  the 
fish  into  a  cask,  piling  them  up  a  foot  or  so 
above  the  brim,  mount  on  the  top,  and  having 
danced  a  war-dance  upon  them  in  their  hob- 
nailed boots  to  pack  them  down,  roll  the  barrel 
under  a  screw-press,  where  men  stand  ready  to 
take  charge  of  it. 

4.  The  cask  is  then  rolled  out  from  under  the 
press,  and  handed  over  to  two  coopers.     In  a 
trice3  the  hoops  are  driven  on,  the  cask  is  headed 
up,  and  then  trundled4  down  an  incline5  into 
the  hold 6  of  some  vessel,  loading  for  the  West 
Indies  or  some  Mediterranean  port. 

1  Wharves,  hwdrvs,  places  for  loading  and  emptying  vessels. 

2  Culled,  kuld,  selected  or  chosen.     8  Trice,  trise,  moment. 
4  Trundled,  triin'dld,  rolled.  5  Incline",  a  slope. 

6  Hold,  interior  of  a  vessel,  in  which  its  cargo  is  stowed. 


46  Catching  Seals. 


X.     CATCHING   SEALS. 

|EALING  operations  are  vigorously 
conducted  by  the  inhabitants  of  St. 
John's.  In  former  days  the  seal  fishery 
was  carried  on  in  sailing  vessels,  and  was  at- 
tended with  considerable1  danger ;  but  now  that 
steamships  are  used  the  risk  is  much  dimin- 
ished. The  paying  nature  of  the  business2  may 
be  gathered  from  the  fact  that  steamers  make  a 
large  profit,  although  the  sealing  season  lasts 
only  a  month  or  six  weeks. 

2.  Early  in  the  spring,  the  ice  from  the  north 
strikes  in  towards  the  eastern  coast  of  New- 
foundland, bringing  with  it  hundreds  and  hun- 
dreds of  thousands  of  seals,  young  and  old. 
Then  St.  John's  wakes  up,  and  the  whole  island 
is  in  a  bustle.3  Though  it  entails  constant  ex- 
posure to  great  cold,  and  extremely  hard  work, 
the  young  men  struggle  eagerly  to  secure  a 
berth  for  the  sealing  season,  for  they  earn  very 
high  wages,  enjoy  the  sport,  and  the  business 
involves  uncertainty  and  danger  which  add 
such  a  rel'ish  to  their  lives. 

1  Considerable,  con-sid'er-a-ble,  not  sid'ra.  Business,  bigness. 

3  Bustle,  bus' I,  not  bus'tel,  confusion. 


Catching  Seals.  47 

3.  At  length  everything  is  ready,  and  a  fleet 
of  steamers  and  of  sailing  craft  of  all  kinds  and 
sizes,  from  large  coasting  schooners  down  to 
open  boats,  issuing  from  every  bay,  start  out  to 
look  for  the  ice.     The  ships,  crowded  with  as 
many  men  as  they  can  hold,  make  two  trips  of 
about    a   fortnight's   duration   each;    the    first 
being  devoted  to  the  capture  of  the  young  seals, 
at   that   time   only  a  few  weeks  old,  and  the 
second   to   the   destruction  of  the  full-grown 
animals.     The  latter  are  generally  shot,  while 
the  former  are  knocked  on  the  head  with  clubs. 

4.  As  soon  as  the  ice  is  reached,  the  men 
scatter  themselves  about  the  field,  running  over 
the  rough  surface,  jumping  from  block  to  block 
of  loose  ice,  tumbling  into  holes  and  scrambling 
out  again,  wild  with  excitement  in  their  search 
for  seals. 

5.  Each  man  acts  independently,  doing  the 
best  he  can  for  himself.     When  he  has  killed 
a  seal  he  stops  but  a  minute 1  to  whip  off  the 
skin  with  the  blubber2  attached,  and  fasten  a 
cord  to  it,  and  then   he  starts   off  again  after 
another  seal,  and  so  on  till  he  has  secured  as 
many  as  he  can  drag :  then  he  returns,  towing 
his  load  behind  him,  to  the  ship. 

1  Minute,  min'it. 

2  Blubber,  fat  of  sea  animals  from  which  oil  is  made. 


48  Catching  Seals. 

6.  These  seals  are  valuable  only  for  the  oil 
which  is  tried  out  of  their  fat,  and  which  is  em- 
ployed for  various  lubricating1  purposes,  and  for 
their  skins,  which  are  tanned  and  used  princi- 
pally for  shoe  leather.    They  do  not  produce  the 
pelt  which,  when  plucked  and  dyed,  is  worked 
up  into  those  lovely  sealskin  sacques2  which 
ladies  so  much  delight  to  wear  in  cold  weather. 

7.  The  number  of  seals  brought  in  annually 
is  very  great,  as  many  as  five  hundred  thousand 
having   been  killed  in  a   single   season.     The 
business  employs  nearly  ten  thousand  men. 

8.  The   ice,  on    which  they  come    down  in 
swarms  every  year  from  the  north,  melts  during 
the  summer  months  soon  after  coming  in  con- 
tact with  the  warm  waters  of  the  Gulf  Stream. 

9.  What  then   becomes  of  the    seals?     Do 
they  find  their  way  back  through  thousands  of 
watery  miles   to 'their  polar  birthplace,  or   do 
they  remain  scattered  about  along  the  shores 
of  Newfoundland  and  the  neighboring  conti- 
nent ?    It  is  a  problem  in  natural  history. 

EARL  OF  DUNRAVEN. 

1  Lubricating,  lu' ' bri-ka~ting,  making  smooth. 

2  Sacques,  sax. 

Do  all  seals  yield  fine  fur  ?  (See  pages  29,  30,  31.)  Where  are  the  best  fur 
seals  captured  ?  Through  what  preparation  does  their  fur  go*before  it  is  ready 
for  use?  Is  the  seal  a  fish  ?  Is  the  whale  a  fish  ?  Is  their  blood  cold,  or  warm? 
Do  they  breathe  by  means  of  gills,  or  lungs. 


A  Ship  in  a  Storm. 


49 


XI.     A    SHIP    IN    A   STORM. 

THE  calm1  which 
began  about  four 
o'clock  yesterday 
afternoon,  contin- 
ued till  about  nine 
in  the  evening. 
The  captain  pre- 
dicted2 that  we 
should  encounter 
a  "gale"3  from 
the  south-east. 

2.  The  gale  came 
on  at  about  eleven 
o'clock;  not  vio- 
lent at  first,  but 
increasing  every 
moment.  I  slept  soundly  until  after  five  in  the 
morning,  and  then  awoke  with  a  confused  recollection 
of  a  good  deal  of  rolling  and  thumping  through  the 
night,  which  was  occasioned  by  the  dashing  of  the 
waves  against  the  ship. 

3.  It  was  still  quite  dark.  Four  of  the  sails  were 
already  in  ribbons ;  the  winds  whistling  through  the 
cordage ; 4  the  rain  dashing  furiously  and  in  torrents  ; 
the  noise  and  spray  scarcely  less  than  I  found  them 
under  the  great  sheet  at  Niagara. 

1  Calm,  kdm.  2  Predicted,  pre-dict'ed,  foretold. 

3  Gale,  gale,  wind  which  blows  at  the  rate  of  50  to  60  miles  an 
hour-  4  Cordage,  cord'age,  ropes. 


50  A  Ship  in  a  Storm. 

4.  And  in  the  midst  of  all  this,  the  captain  with 
his  speaking    trumpet,  the  officers  and  the  sailors 
screaming  to  each  other  in  efforts  to  be  heard — this, 
all  this,  in  the  darkness  which  precedes  the  dawning 
of  day,  and  with  the  fury  of  the  hurricane,  combined 
to  form  as  much  of  the  terribly  sublime  as  I   ever 
wish  to  witness  concentrated  in  one  scene. 

5.  The  passengers,  though  silent,  were  filled  with 
apprehension.     What  the  extent  of  the  danger,  and 
how  all  this  would  terminate,  were  questions  which 
rose  in  my  own  mind,  although  I  was  unconscious 
of  fear  or  trep-ida'tion.     But  to  such  questions  there 
are  no  answers,  for  this  knowledge  resides  only  with 
Him  who  "  guides  the  storm  and  directs  the  whirl- 
wind." 

6.  We  had  encountered,  however,  as  yet,  only  the 
commencement  of  a  gale,  whose  terrors  had   been 
heightened  by  its  suddenness,  by  the  darkness,  and 
by  the  confusion. 

7.  It  continued  to  blow  furiously  for  twenty-four 
hours;  so  that   during  the  whole  day  I   enjoyed  a 
view  which,  apart  from  its  dangers,  would  be  worth 
a  voyage  across  the  Atlantic. 

8.  The  ship  was  driven  madly  through  the  raging 
waters,  and  when  it  was  impossible  to  walk  the  decks 
without  imminent  risk  of  being  lifted  up  and  carried 
away  by  the  winds,  the  poor  sailors  were  kept  aloft, 
tossing  and  swinging  about    the  yards   and    in  the 
tops,  clinging  by  their  bodies,  feet,  and  arms  with 
mysterious  tenacity  to  the  spars,  while  their  hands 
were  employed  in  taking  in  and  securing  sail. 


A  Skip  in  a  Storm.  51 

9.  On  deck  the  officers  and  men  made  themselves 
safe  by  ropes;  but  how  the  gallant  fellows  aloft  kept 
from  being  blown  out  of  the  rigging,  was  equally  a 
matter  of  wonder  aud  admiration. 

10.  However,  about  seven  o'clock  they  had  taken 
in  what  canvas  had  not  been  blown  away.     At  nine 
o'clock   the   hurricane  had   acquired    its  full  force. 
There  was  no  more  work  to  be  done. 

11.  The  ship    lay  to,  and  those  who  had  her  in 
charge  only  remained  on  deck  to  be  prepared  for 
whatever  disaster  might  occur.     The  breakfast  hour 
came    and    passed,   unheeded,  though   I  found   my 
appetite  quite  equal  to  the  spare  allowance  of  a  fast 
day. 

12.  By  this  time  the  sea  was  rolling  up  its  hurri- 
cane waves ;  and  that  I  might  not  lose  the  grandeur 
of  such  a  view,  I  fortified  myself  against  the  rain  and 
spray,  and  in    spite   of  the    fierceness  of  the  gale, 
planted  myself  in  a  position  favorable  for  a  survey 
of  all  around  me,  and  in  safety,  so  long  as  the  ship's 
strong  works  might  hold  together. 

13.  Our  ship  rode  out  the  whirlwind  without  dam- 
age and  in  triumph.     True  it  is,  she  was  made  to 
whistle   through   her  cordage,   to   creak  and  moan 
through  all  her  timbers,  even  to  her  masts.     True  it 
is,  she  was  made  to  plunge  and  rear,  to  tremble  and 
reel  and  stagger.     Still,  she  continued  to  scale  the 
watery  mountain,  and  ride  on  its  very  summit,  until, 
as  it  rolled  onward  from  beneath  her,  she  descended 
gently  on  her  pathway,  ready  to  triumph  again  and 
again  over  each  succeeding  wave. 


52  Snow-Flakes. 

14.  At  such  a  moment  it  was  a  matter  of  profound 
deliberation  which  most  to  admire,  the  majesty  of 
God  in  the  winds  and  waves  or  His  goodness  and 
wisdom  in  enabling  His  creatures  to  contend  with 
and  overcome  the  elements  even  in  the  fierceness  of 
their  anger !  To  cast  one's  eye  abroad  on  the  scene 
that  surrounded  me  at  this  moment,  and  to  think 
man  should  have  said  to  himself,  "  I  will  build 
myself  an  ark  in  the  midst  of  you,  and  ye  shall  not 
prevent  my  passage ;  nay,  ye  indomitable  waves 
shall  bear  me  up,  and  ye  winds  shall  waft  me  on- 
ward !  "  And  yet  there  we  were  in  the  fullness  of 
this  fearful  experiment.  ARCHBISHOP  HUGHES. 

ARCHBISHOP  HUGHES  of  New  York,  was  a  celebrated  and 
learned  prelate  of  the  Catholic  Church,  born  in  Ireland,  in  1797. 
At  the  age  of  20  years,  he  came  to  the  United  States,  and  was 
educated  in  Maryland. 


SNOW-FLAKES. 

HEN  EVER  a  snow-flake  leaves  the  sky, 
It  turns  and  turns  to  say  "  Good-bye ! 
Good-bye,  dear  cloud,  so  cool  and  gray ! 
Then  lightly  travels  on  its  way. 

And  when  a  snow-flake  finds  a  tree, 

"  Good-day  !  "  it  says — "  Good-day  to  thee ! 

Thou  art  so  bare  and  lonely,  dear, 

I'll  rest  and  call  my  comrades  here." 

But  when  a  snow-flake,  brave  and  meek, 
Lights  on  a  rosy  maiden's  cheek, 
It  starts — "  How  warm  and  soft  the  day ! 
Tis  summer !  " — and  it  melts  away. 


The  Voice  of  the  Wind.  53 


XII.    THE  VOICE  OF  THE  WIND. 

|ET  us  throw  more  logs  on  the  fire ! 
We  have  need  of  a  cheerful  light, 
And  close  round  the  hearth  to  gather, 
For  the  wind  has  risen  to-night. 
With  the  mournful  sound  of  its  wailing 

It  has  checked  the  children's  glee, 
And  it  calls  with  a  louder  clam'or 
Than  the  clamor  of  the  sea. 

Hark  to  the  voice  of  the  wind ! 

Let  us  listen  to  what  it  is  saying, 

Let  us  hearken  to  where  it  has  been ; 
For  it  tells,  in  its  terrible  crying, 

The  fearful  sights  it  has  seen. 
It  clatters  loud  at  the  casements, 

Round  the  house  it  hurries  on, 
And  shrieks  with  redoubled  fury, 

When  we  say,  "  The  blast  is  gone !  " 
Hark  to  the  voice  of  the  wind ! 

It  has  been  on  the  field  of  battle, 

Where  the  dying  and  wounded  lie, 
And  it  brings  the  last  groan  they  uttered; 

And  the  ravenous  vulture's  cry. 
It  has  been  where  the  icebergs  were  meeting 

And  closed  with  a  fearful  crash ; 
On  the  shore  where  no  footstep  has  wandered. 

It  has  heard  the  waters  dash. 

Hark  to  the  voice  of  the  wind  i 


54  The  Voice  of  the  Wind. 

It  has  been  on  the  desolate  ocean, 

When  the  lightning  struck  the  mast ; 
It  has  heard  the  cry  of  the  drowning, 

Who  sank  as  it  hurried  past ; 
The  words  of  despair  and  anguish, 

That  were  heard  by  no  human  ear, 
The  gun  that  no  signal  answered ; 

It  brings  them  all  to  us  here. 

Hark  to  the  voice  of  the  wind  ! 

It  has  swept  through  the  gloomy  forest, 

Where  the  sledge  was  urged  to  its  speed. 
Where  the  howling  wolves  were  rushing 

On  the  track  of  the  panting  steed. 
Where  the  pool  was  black  and  lonely, 

It  caught  up  a  splash  and  a  cry — 
Only  the  bleak  sky  heard  it, 

And  the  wind  as  it  hurried  by. 

Hark  to  the  voice  of  the  wind  ! 

Then  throw  more  logs  on  the  fire, 

Since  the  air  is  bleak  and  cold, 
And  the  children  are  drawing  nigher, 

For  the  tales  that  the  wind  has  told. 
So  closer  and  closer  gather 

Round  the  red  and  crackling  light ; 
And  rejoice  (while  the  wind  is  blowing) 

We  are  safe  and  warm  to-night ! 
Hark  to  the  voice  of  the  wind  ! 

Miss  PROCTER. 

ADELAIDE  ANNE  PROCTER,  a  poetess,  born  in  London,  in  1825. 


The  Missing  Ship.  55 


XIII.    THE   MISSING   SHIP. 

was  long  before  the  cable  stretched  across 
the  ocean,  when  the  steamers  did  not  make 
such  rapid  runs  from  continent  to  conti- 
nent, that  the  ship  Atlantic  was  missing.  She  had 
been  due  in  New  York  for  some  days,  and  the  people 
began  to  despair.  "  The  Atlantic  has  not  been  heard 
from  yet!"  "What  news  from  the  Atlantic  on 
Exchange?"  "None." 

2.  Telegraph  despatches  came  in  from  all  quarters. 
"Any  news  from  ti\z  Atlantic ?"     And  the  word 
thrilled   along  the  wires  to  the  hearts  of  those  who 
had  friends  on  board.     "  No." 

3.  Day  after  day  passed,  and  people  began  to  be 
excited  when  the  booming  of  the  guns  told  that  a 
ship  was  coming  up  the  Narrows.     People  went  out 
upon  the  Battery  and  Castle  Garden  with  their  spy- 
glasses ;  but  it  was  a  British  ship,  the  Union  Jack 
was  flying  ;  they  watched  her  come  to  her  moorings 
and  their  hearts  sank  within  them. 

4.  "Any  news  from  ti\z  Atlantic?  " 

5.  "  Has  not  the  Atlantic  arrived  ?  " 

6.  "No!" 

7.  "  She  sailed  fifteen  days  before  we  did,  and  we 
have  heard  nothing  from  her ;  "  and  the  people  said, 
"  There  is  no  use  hoping  against  hope ;  she  has  gone, 
like  the  President.     She  has  made  her  last  port." 

8.  Day  after  day  passed,  and  men  looked  at  one 
another  and  said,  "  Ah,  it  is  a  sad  thing  about  the 
Atlantic!" 


56  Bell  of  the  "Atlantic? 


XIV.     BELL   OF   THE  "ATLANTIC." 

|OLL,  toll,  toll ! 

Thou  bell  by  billows  swung, 
And,  night  and  day,  thy  warning  words 
Repeat  with  mournful  tongue ! 
Toll  for  the  queenly  boat, 

Wrecked  on  yon  rocky  shore ! 
Sea-weed  is  in  her  palace  halls — 
She  rides  the  surge  no  more. 

Toll  for  the  master  bold, 

The  high-souled  and  the  brave, 
Who  ruled  her  like  a  thing  of  life 

Amid  the  crested  wave ! 
Toll  for  the  hardy  crew, 

Sons  of  the  storm  and  blast, 
Who  long  the  tyrant  ocean  dared  ; 

But  it  vanquished  them  at  last. 

Toll  for  the  man  of  God, 

Whose  hallowed  voice  of  prayer 
Rose  calm  above  the  stifled  groan 

Of  that  intense  despair  ! 
How  precious  were  those  tones, 

On  that  sad  verge  of  life, 
Amid  the  fierce  and  freezing  storm, 

And  the  mountain  billows'  strife  ! 


Bell  of  the  "A  tlanticr  5  7 

Toll  for  the  lover,  lost 

To  the  summoned  bridal  train  ; 
Bright  glows  a  picture  on  his  .breast, 

Beneath  th'  unfathomed  main. 
One  from  her  casement  gazeth 

Long  o'er  the  misty  sea: 
He  cometh  not,  pale  maiden — 

His  heart  is  cold  to  thee ' 

Toll  for  the  absent  sire, 

Who  to  his  home  drew  near, 
To  bless  a  glad,  expecting  group — 

Fond  wife  and  children  dear ! 
They  heap  the  blazing  hearth, 

The  festal  board  is  spread, 
But  a  fearful  guest  is  at  the  gate ; — 

Room  for  the  sheeted  dead ! 

Toll  for  the  loved  and  fair, 

The  whelmed  beneath  the  tide — 
The  broken  harps  around  whose  strings 

The  dull  sea-monsters  glide  ! 
Mother  and  nursling  sweet, 

Reft  from  the  household  throng ; 
There's  bitter  weeping  in  the  nest 

Where  breathed  their  soul  of  song. 

Toll  for  the  hearts  that  bleed 

'Neath  misery's  furrowing  trace  ; 
Toll  for  the  hapless  orphan  left, 

The  last  of  all  his  race  ! 


58  All's  Well. 

Yea,  with  thy  heaviest  knell, 
From  surge  to  rocky  shore, 

Toll  for  the  living — not  the  dead, 
Whose  mortal  woes  are  o'er. 

Toll,  toll,  toll ! 

O'er  breeze  and  billow  free  ; 
And  with  thy  startling  lore  instruct 

Each  rover  of  the  sea. 
Tell  how  o'er  proudest  joys 

May  swift  destruction  sweep, 
And  bid  him  build  his  hopes  on  high — 

Lone  teacher  of  the  deep  ! 

MRS.  SIG'OURNEY. 


XV.     ALL'S   WELL. 

ESERTED  by  the  waning  moon, 
When  skies  proclaim  night's  cheerless  noon, 
On  tower,  or  fort,  or  tented  ground 
The  sentry  walks  his  lonely  round ; 
And  should  a  footstep  haply  stray 
Where  caution  marks  the  guarded  way, 
Who  goes  there  ?     Stranger  quickly  tell ; 
A  friend, — the  word.     Good-night ;  all's  well. 

Or  sailing  on  the  midnight  deep, 
When  weary  messmates  soundly  sleep, 
The  careful  watch  patrols  the  deck, 
To  guard  the  ship  from  foes  or  wreck ; 
And  while  his  thoughts  oft  homeward  veer, 
Some  friendly  voice  salutes  his  ear, — 
What  cheer?  brother,  quickly  tell; 
Above, — below.     Good-night ;  all's  well. 


The  Brave  Pilot.  59 


XVI.    THE   BRAVE    PILOT. 

lOHN    MAYNARD  was  well  known  in  the 
lake  district  as  a  God-fearing,  honest,  and 
intelligent  man.     He  was  pilot  on  a  steam- 
boat going  from  Detroit  to  Buffalo. 

2.  One    summer   afternoon — at   that   time   those 
steamers  seldom  carried  life-boats — smoke  was  seen 
ascending  from  below,  and  the  captain  called  out, 
"  Simpson,   go   below  and  see  what  the  matter   is 
down  there." 

3.  Simpson  came  up  with  his  face  pale  as  ashes, 
and  said,  "  Captain,  the  ship  is  on  fire." 

4.  Then  "Fire!  fire!  fire!"  on  shipboard. 

5.  All  hands  were  called  up,  buckets  of  water  were 
dashed  on  the  fire,  but  in  vain.     There  were  large 
quantities  of  rosin  and  tar  on  board,  and  it  was  found 
useless  to  attempt  to  save  the  ship. 

6.  The  passengers  rushed    forward  and    inquired 
of  the  pilot,    "How  far  are  we  from  Buffalo?" 

7.  "  Seven  miles." 

8.  "  How  long  before  we  can  reach  there  ?  " 

9.  "  Three-quarters  of  an  hour,  at  our  present  rate 
of  steam." 

10.  "  Is  there  any  danger  ?  " 

11.  "Danger!     Here,    see   the    smoke    bursting 
out, — go  forward  if  you  would  save  your  lives." 


60  The  Brave  Pilot. 

12.  Passengers  and  crew — men,  women,  and  chil- 
dren— crowded  the  forward  part  of  the  ship.     John 
Maynard  stood  at  the  helm.     The  flames  burst  forth 
in  a  sheet  of  fire  ;  clouds  of  smoke  arose. 

13.  The  captain  cried  out  through  his   trumpet, 
"  John  Maynard !  " 

14.  "  Ay,  ay,  sir  !  " 

15.  "Are  you  at  the  helm  !  " 

16.  "Ay,  ay,  sir!" 

17.  "How  does  she  head?" 

1 8.  "  Southeast  by  east,  sir." 

19.  "  Head  her  southeast,  and  run  her  on  shore," 
said  the  captain. 

20.  Nearer,   nearer,  yet    nearer,   she   approached 
the  shore. 

21.  Again   the  captain   cried    out,    "John    May- 
nard ! " 

22.  The  response  came  feebly  this  time,  "  Ay,  ay, 
sir!" 

23.  "  Can  you  hold  on  five  minutes  longer,  John?  " 
he  said. 

24.  "  By  God's  help,  I  will." 

25.  The  old   man's  hair  was   scorched  from   the 
scalp,  one  hand  disabled  ; — his  knee  upon  the  stanch- 
ion, and  his  teeth  set,  with  his  other  hand  upon  the 
wheel,  he  stood  firm  as  a  rock. 

26.  He    beached    the    ship ;    every  man,  woman, 
and    child    was   saved,  as  John   Maynard  dropped, 
and  his  spirit  took  its  flight  to  God. 

JOHN  B.  GOUGH. 


Little  Mabel.  61 


XVII.     LITTLE   MABEL. 


,  little  Mabel, 

With  face  against  the  pane, 
Looks  out  across  the  night 
And  sees  the  Beacon  Light 
A-trembling  in  the  rain. 

She  hears  the  sea-birds  screech, 

And  the  breakers  on  the  beach 

Making  moan,  making  moan. 

And  the  wind  about  the  eaves 
Of  the  cottage  sobs  and  grieves  ; 

And  the  willow-tree  is  blown 

To  and  fro,  to  and  fro 
Till  it  seems  like  some  old  crone 
Standing  out  there  all  alone, 

With  her  woe  ! 
Wringing,  as  she  stands, 
Her  gaunt  and  palsied  hands, 
While  Mabel,  timid  Mabel, 

With  face  against  the  pane, 
Looks  out  across  the  night, 
And  sees  the  Beacon  Light, 

A-trembling  in  the  rain. 

Set  the  table,  maiden  Mabel, 
And  make  the  cabin  warm  ; 

Your  little  fisher-lover 
Is  out  there  in  the  storm, 


Little  Mabel  63 

And  your  father — you  are  weeping ! 

O  Mabel,  timid  Mabel, 

Go,  spread  the  supper-table, 
And  set  the  tea  a-steeping. 

Your  lover's  heart  is  brave, 

His  boat  is  staunch  and  tight ; 
And  your  father  knows  the  perilous  reef 

That  makes  the  water  white. 
— But  Mabel,  Mabel  darling, 

With  face  against  the  pane, 
Looks  out  across  the  night 

At  the  Beacon  in  the  rain. 

The  heavens  are  veined  with  fire! 

And  the  thunder,  how  it  rolls ! 
In  the  lullings  of  the  storm 

The  solemn  church-bell  tolls. 
*         -K         •&         *         *         * 
A  boom  ! — the  Lighthouse  gun  ! 

(How  its  echo  rolls  and  rolls !) 
'Tis  to  warn  the  home-bound  ships 

Off  the  shoals ! 
See  !  a  rocket  cleaves  the  sky 

From  the  Fort, — a  shaft  of  light ! 
See !  it  fades,  and,  fading,  leaves 

Golden  furrows  on  the  night ! 

What  made  Mabel's  cheek  so  pale? 

What  made  Mabel's  lips  so  white  ? 
Did  she  see  the  helpless  sail 

That,  tossing  here  and  there, 

Like  a  feather  in  the  air, 


64  Little  Mabel. 

Went  down  and  out  of  sight  ? 
Down,  down,  and  out  of  sight ! 
O,  watch  no  more,  no  more, 

With  face  against  the  pane ; 
You  cannot  see  the  men  that  drown 

By  the  Beacon  in  the  rain ! 
****** 

Four  ancient  fishermen, 

In  the  pleasant  autumn  air, 
Come  toiling  up  the  sands, 
With  something  in  their  hands, — 
Two  bodies  stark  and  white, 
Ah,  so  ghastly  in  the  light, 

With  sea-weed  in  their  hair ! 

O  ancient  fishermen, 

Go  up  to  yonder  cot ! 
You'll  find  a  little  child, 

With  face  against  the  pane, 
Who  looks  toward  the  beach, 

And,  looking,  sees  it  not. 

She  will  never  watch  again  ! 

Never  watch  and  weep  at  night! 
For  those  pretty,  saintly  eyes 
Look  beyond  the  stormy  skies, 

And  they  see  the  Beacon  Light. 

ALDRICH. 

THOMAS  BAILEY  ALDRICH,  an  American  poet,  born  in  New 
Hampshire  in  1836.  His  writings — prose  as  well  as  poetry — have 
attracted  wide  attention,  and  his  "  Story  of  a  Bad  Boy,"  first  printed 
in  "Our  Young  Folkf,"  has  been  read  with  enthusiasm  by  both 
old  and  young. 


What  Light-houses  are  for.  65 


XVIII.     LIGHT-HOUSES. 

1.  Light-houses  are  very 
necessary  in  saving  ships. 
When  the  wind  is  blowing 
a  ship  towards  the  shore 
on  a  dark  night,  if  there 
were  no  light-houses  the 
ship  would  inevitably  be 
destroyed. 

2.  The  United  States 
has  many  miles  of  sea-coast 
along  the  Atlantic  and 
Pacific  Oceans,  as  well 
as  on  the  Gulf  of  Mex- 
ico, and  also  in  the  great 
lakes  of  the  north;  these 

lakes  are  like  seas  of  fresh  water. 

3.  To  protect  the  shipping  on  all  this  long 
line  of  coast  this  country  supported  in  1873  six 
hundred  and  twenty  light-houses. 

4.  Light-houses   are  built  of  stone,  brick,  or 
iron.    To  look  at  some  of  the  rocks  before  a  light- 
house is  built  on  them,  you  would  say  that  it 
was  impossible  to    build    anything    on  such  a 
slippery,  wave-washed  place  as  that,  for  some- 
times the  rock  can    be  seen  for  a  short   time 
only  at  low  tide. 


66  The  Lighthouse. 

5.  The  ingenuity  and  patient  thought  of  man 
can,  however,  overcome  many  difficulties,  and 
one  plan  after  another  has  been  tried,  until  all 
obstacles  have  been  overcome. 

6.  The  next  time  it  blows  hard  on  a  dark 
night,  especially   if  the  wind  blow  towards  the 
shore,  you  can  readily  imagine  every  one  on 
board  a  ship  peering  eagerly  to  see  the  wished- 
for  light.     When  at  length  they  see  it,  what  joy 
spreads  from  stem  to  stern  !     The  captain  takes 
out  his  watch,  and,  after  observing  a  little,  says : 
"  It  is  a  revolving  light,  and  it  revolves  in  so 
many  minutes  ;  now  I  know  which  light  it  is, 
and  I  know  just  where  we  are." 


XIX.    THE   LIGHTHOUSE. 

HE  mariner  remembers  when  a  child, 

On  his  first  voyage,  he  saw  it  fade  and  sink; 
And  when  returning  from  adventures  wild 
He  saw  it  rise  again  o'er  ocean's  brink. 

Steadfast,  serene,  immovable,  the  same 

Year  after  year,  through  all  the  silent  night, 

Burns  on  forevermore  that  quenchless  flame, 
Shines  on  that  inextin'guishable  light ! 

"  Sail  on  !  "  it  says,  "  sail  on,  ye  stately  ships! 

And  with  your  floating  bridge  the  ocean  span ; 
Be  mine  to  guard  this  light  from  all  eclipse, 

Be  yours  to  bring  man  nearer  unto  man  !  " 

LONGFELLOW. 


Story  of  Eddys  t 


B  R  A  «  TN 

OF   TMK 

TJNIVEB 


,     67  , 


XX.     THE    STORY    OF   EDDYSTONK 


Eddystone  Lighthouse. 


|HE  first  lighthouse  of  a  regular  character  on 
the  shores  of  England  was  erected  about 
1699,  of  stone  and  timber.     The  Eddystone 
is  the  name  of  the  highest  summit  of  a  reef  of  rocks 


68  The  Story  of  Eddy  stone. 

lying   in    deep-water   about   fourteen   miles   to  the 
south-west  of  Plymouth 1  harbor. 

2.  At  high  water  they  are  barely  visible,  and  their 
position  could  only  be  told  by  the  waves  which  eddy 2 
and  seethe  above  them ;  at   low  water  several  low, 
broken,  and  dismal-looking  ridges  are  seen.     When 
the  wind  blows  no  ship  involved  in  the  vortex 3  could 
hope  to  escape  destruction. 

3.  It  may  readily  be  seen  that  so  perilous  a  reef, 
when    unprotected    by  any    beacon,4  was   a  source 
of  deep  alarm  to  the  mariner.     Wrecks  were  so  nu- 
merous that  the  erection  of  a  lighthouse  was  a  mat- 
ter of  national  concern ;  yet  no  one  could  be  found 
to  undertake  a  task  whose  accomplishment  nature 
seemed  to  have  rendered  impossible,  until    Henry 
Winstanley,  a  country  gentleman  of  Essex,  chival- 
rously came  forward,  and  having  obtained  the  neces- 
sary legal  powers,  proceeded  to  carry  his  design  into 
execution. 

4.  The  first  summer — and  it  was  only  in  summer 
the  work  could  be  carried  on — was  occupied  in  mak- 
ing twelve  holes  in  the  rock,  and  fastening  as  many 
irons5  in  them.     The  task  pro-gress'ed  but  slowly, 
for,   as  Winstanley  himself  relates,   though   it  was 
summer,  the  weather  would  at  times  prove  of  such 
terrible  violence,  that  for  ten  days  together  the  sea 
would  so  rage  about  the  rocks  as  to  bury  the  works, 
and  prevent  all  approach  to  them. 

1  Plymouth,  plim'uth.  3  Vor'tex,  center  of  whirlpool 

*  Ed'dy,  contrary  current,  4  Beacon,  be'kn,  a  signal, 

a  whirlpool.  5  Irons,  i'urns. 


The  Story  of  Eddy  stone.  69 

5.  The  second  summer  was  spent  in  constructing 
a  solid,  round  pillar,  and  in  the  third  year  all  was 
finished ;  the  lantern  was  placed  and  they  ventured 
to  lodge  there  soon  after  mid-summer. 

6.  Winstanley  was  proud  of  his  work,  and  so  con- 
vinced, it  is  said,  of  its  entire  solidity,  that  he  ex- 
pressed a  wish  to  be  beneath  its  roof  in  the  greatest 
storm  that  ever  blew  under  the  face  of  heaven,  con- 
vinced that  it  could  not  shake  one  joist  or  beam. 

7.  He  had  his  wish  fulfilled.     With  his  workmen 
and  keepers  he  had  taken  up  his  abode  in  the  light- 
house, when  a  terrible  gale  blew,  and  on  the  26th  of 
November,  attained  to   an   unparalleled    excess  of 
fury. 

8.  All  through  that  memorable  night  the  tempest 
raged.     As  soon   as  morning  came  the  people   of 
Plymouth  hastened  to  the  beach,  and  looked  toward 
the  Eddystone.     But  no  structure  crowned  the  rock 
over  which  the  waves  were  tossing  all  unchecked. 
The  lighthouse  was  swept  away,   and  no    vestige1 
remained  of  its  adventurous  occupants. 

9.  The  lighthouse  which  was  afterward  built  was 
commenced  by  John  Smeaton,  and  finished  in  1/59- 
This  becoming  unsafe  a  new  one,  built  of  granite, 
was  completed  in  1881.     The  violence  of  the  swell, 
even  in  mild  weather,  renders  communication  with 
the  shore  exceedingly  dangerous;  and  the  sea  fre- 
quently rises  above  the  light. 

1  Ves'tige,  trace. 


Movements  in  the  Ocean. 


Blackboard  Drawing-  of  the  G-ulf  Stream  (warm)  and  Arctic  Cur- 
rent (cold).  Draw  a  frame  24  inches  from  north  to  south,  and 
26  inches  from  east  to  west.  On  it  mark  points  where  the 
outlines  of  the  continents  touch  it,  making:  every  line  and 
distance  exactly  eight  times  as  long*  as  in  the  diagram.  The 
arrows  show  the  directions  in  which  the  currents  flow.  The 
current  in  dotted  lines  is  cold. 


XXI.  OCEAN  CURRENTS— GULF  STREAM, 

1.  The  waters  of  the  oceans  are  in  constant 
motion,  those  of  warm  parts  of  the  earth  flow- 
ing toward  the  cold  regions,  and  those  from  the 
cold  parts  flowing  toward  the  hot  regions. 

2.  The  coldest  parts  of  the  earth  are  the  most 


Warm  and  Cold  Currents.  71 

northern  and  southern  [the  teacher  pointing  to 
them  on  a  globe  or  map],  and  the  hottest  parts 
are  midway  between  them,  or  on  each  side  of  a 
great  circle  called  the  Equator. 

3.  In   the   oceans  are  great  streams  or  cur- 
rents which  flow  like  rivers.     The  warm  stream 
is  called  the  Equatorial  Current,  and  the  cold 
streams  are  called  Arctic  and  Antarctic  Currents. 

4.  One  of  the  principal  branches  of  the  Equa- 
torial Current  is  called  the  Gulf  Stream,  which, 
as  you  may  see  in  the  drawing,  issues  from  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico. 

5.  Of  course  it  is  only  that  part  of  the  great  Equatorial 
Current  which   is   turned  northwest  by  the  eastern  part  .or 
elbow  of  South  America,  entering  the  Gulf  of  Mexico 
between   Cuba  and    Yucatan,  and  leaving   it   between 
Cuba  and  Florida. 

6.  This  Gulf  Stream,  flowing  in  a  northeast 
direction    across   the   Atlantic,   is,   therefore,   a 
stream    of  warm    water   rushing   through    and 
over  the  cold  waters  of  that  part  of  the  ocean. 

7.  The    Gulf    Stream    and   winds   from    the 
southwest   carry  heat  all  the  way  to  the  west 
coast  of  Europe,  keeping  the  fields  of  Eng- 
land  and    Ireland   fresh  and  green  even  in 
winter,    and   protecting  those    countries    from 
a  climate  similar  to  that  of  Labrador,  where 
for  five  or  six  months  in  the  year  the  waters 
are  frozen  and  the  ground  is  all  covered  over 


72  Effects  of  the  Currents. 

with  snow.     Observe  that  Labrador  is  no  fur- 
ther from  the  Equator  than  are  those  countries. 

8.  The  waters  of  the  Gulf  Stream  moderate 
the  winters  also  of  Norway  and  Iceland. 

9.  You  can  readily  see  that   a  ship  can  sail  from  the 
United  States  to  Europe  with  the  Gulf  Stream  in  a 
shorter  time   than  it  can  from    Europe    to    this    country, 
against  the  stream. 

10.  The  chief  causes  of  these  ocean  currents  are  the 
heat  of  the  sun  and    the   revolution   of  the  earth  on  its 
axis.     The  winds  also  have  an  effect  on  them. 

1 1.  There  are  other  currents  in  the    ocean ; 
one  in  the  North  Pacific  is  similar  to  the  Gulf 
Stream  of  the  Atlantic.     It  carries  warmth  and 
fertility  to  the  shores  of  California,  Oregon, 
and  Washington  Territory. 


What  advantage  is  there  in  these  movements  of  the 
waters  of  the  ocean  ?  They  lessen  the  heat  of  the  hottest 
parts  of  the  earth  and  the  cold  of  the  coldest  parts. 

Of  what  benefit  is  the  Gulf  Stream  to  the  countries  of 
Western  Europe  ?  //  tempers  their  winters,  and  its  vapors 
supply  their  rains. 

How  are  its  vapors  conveyed  to  those  countries  ?  By 
the  westerly  winds. 

What  supplies  the  rains  of  California,  Oregon,  Washing- 
ton Territory,  and  Alaska  ?  Vapors  from  the  Pacific  Ocean. 

Where  do  these  warm  streams  come  from  ?  From  the 
hottest  or  Equatorial  parts  of  the  earth's  surface. 

Where  do  the  cold  streams  come  from  ?  From  the  coldest 
or  Polar  Regions. 


Ships — Shipyards. 


73 


Building-  a  Ship. 


XXII.     SHIPS,  DOCKS,  ETC. 

the  sea-coast  or  on  the  bank  of  a  rivei 
you  will  sometimes  find  a  ship-yard 
where  ships  are  built. 
2.  To  build  a  ship,  men  lay  a  great,  long  tim- 
ber called  the  keel,  on  an  inclined  track  or  plat^ 
form.  To  this  keel  are  fastened  the  ribs,  or 
curved  timbers,  which  form  the  sides  of  the 
ship.  The  whole  is  supported  and  surrounded 
by  a  great  frame  called  the  stocks. 


74  Steamships — A  Ship-Launch. 

3.  The   ribs   are   then    covered    with    thick 
planks,  and  those  planks  which  are  below  the 
water-line  are  covered  with  plates  or  sheets  of 
copper  or  other  metal. 

4.  Steamships  are  now  built  wholly  of  iron 
and  steel.     The  plates,  instead   of  planks,  are 
secured   by   bolts   and    rivets   passing   through 
their  overlapping  edges.     Iron  ships  can  carry 
larger  cargoes  than  wooden  ships. 

5.  When   the  body   or  hull  of  the  ship  is 
ready  to  be  launched,  long,  slanting  timbers  are 
placed  under  it,  reaching  down  into  the  water. 
These  timbers  or  tracks  are  covered  with  grease 
and  soap,  some  of  the  props  removed,  and  the 
whole  is  made  to  slide  down    into   the  water. 
People  take  great  pleasure  in  witnessing  a  launch. 

6.  After  the  ship  is  launched  it  receives  its 
masts  and  sails,  and  is  finished.     If  intended  for 
a  steamship,  it  is  also  provided  with  engines,  fur- 
naces, smoke-pipes,  and  perhaps  paddle-wheels. 

7.  Instead  pf  paddle-wheels,  which  you  may 
see  at  the  sides   of  steamboats,  you   will   find 
that  now  most  steamships  are  driven  by  a  pro- 
peller, or  huge  iron  screw,  at  its  stern,  or  hinder 
part.      When   this   propeller   turns   round   and 
round  very  rapidly,  its  great,  wide  arms  strike 
the  water  in  such  a  way  as  to  push  the  steamer 
ahead  at  the  rate  of  about  fifteen  knots,  or  miles, 
every  hour. 


Pbrts  of  a  Ship—  Their  Names.         75 


Blackboard  Drawing:.  Names  of  sails,  etc.;  A,  flying-gib;  B, 
jib;  C,  foretop-mast-stay  sail;  D,  foretop-g-allant  sail;  E, 
foretop  sail;  F,  fore-course;  G,  maintop-grallant  sail;  H, 
maintop  sail ;  I,  main-course ;  J,  mizzen-spanker. 

K,  hull  or  body;  L,  keel;  M,  bow;  N,  rudder;  O,  bowsprit;  P, 
jib-boom ;  Q-,  martingale ;  B,  life-boat ;  S,  buoy. 

a,  Foreroyal  stay;  c,  foretop-g-allant  stay;  d,  foretop-mast  stay; 
e,  maintop-gallant  stay;  f,  maintop-mast  stay;  h,  main  stay; 
i,  foretop-gallant  mast ;  j,  maintop-gallant  mast ;  k,  mizzen- 
top  mast. 


8.  Here  is  a  ship  (pointing  to  one   on  the 
chart).     See  with    what   ease  she  moves  upon 
her  way,  her  swelling  sails  urging  her  onward 
with    the    favoring  breeze.      What   wonderful 
progress  men  have  made  from  the  time  when 
the  rude  savage  straddled  his  log  and  floated 
first  along  the  shore ! 

9.  Almost  as  primitive  is  the  large  earthen  jar  used 
by  the  fisherman  at  the  mouth  of  the  Ganges  River.     He 


76 


What  Skips  Carry. 


fishes  as  he  floats,  and  puts  the  fish  into  the  jar  that  is  at 
once  his  support  and  his  storehouse.  Other  races  use 
rafts,  bark  canoes,  hollow  logs  called  dug-outs,  and  boats 
of  basket-work  covered  with  skins. 

10.  Then    came    the 
idea   of  a  mast  with  a 
sail  of  skin  or  matting. 
As  soon  as  men  learned 
how    to    make    planks 
they     used     them      to 
make  boats.     These  in- 
creased in   size,  as  did 
their    sails,    until    large 
enough     to    be    called 
sloops   or  schooners  or 
ships,  which   can    carry 
hundreds    of  men   and 
thousands   of    tons    of 

merchandise  for  thousands  of    miles    across   a 
trackless  ocean. 

11.  The  immense  quantities  of  cotton,  corn, 
wheat,  butter,  cheese,  petroleum,  beef,  pork,  and 
other  articles  which  are   being  shipped  to  Eu- 
rope every   year   bring    great    wealth   to    this 
country. 

12.  When  men  discovered  the  power  of  steam, 
they  made  steamboats  and  steamships.     These 
move  over  the  water  by  means  of  the  power 
of  the  vapor  of  water,  that  we  call  steam. 


A  Chinese  Junk. 


Steam — Machinery. 


Blackboard  Drawing-.  On  the  right  is  a  furnace,  on  which  is 
the  boiler,  partly  filled  with  water.  Steam  collects  in  the 
curved  top  of  the  boiler,  and  is  let  into  the  cylinder,  first  at  A, 
then  at  B,  then  A,  then  B,  or  one  after  another,  so  as  to  push 
the  piston,  E,  up  and  down  rapidly,  thus  moving  the  large 
working-beam,  -which  sets  the  whole  machinery  in  motion.  0 
and  D  are  exhaust-pipes. 

13.  Here  is  a  rough  drawing  to  show  how  the 
steam  does  its  work.     When  the  steam  comes 
from  boiling  water  it  expands  very  much,  and 
this  expansion  is  the  power  we  employ. 

14.  The  cylinder  is  a  strong  vessel  of  iron  or 
steel  in  shape  like  one  joint  of  a  stovepipe,  but 
very  much  larger.     The  steam  comes  out  very 
hot,  as  well  as  very  powerful  and  expansive,  and 
getting  in  under  the  piston,  pushes  it  up,  and, 
consequently,   pushes   the   piston-rod  which  is 
attached  to  it.     This  rod  sets  the  machinery  in 
motion,   and   works   the    paddle-wheels  of  the 
steamboat  or  the  great  revolving  screw  or  pro- 
peller of  the  steamship. 

15.  When  the  steam  has  pushed  the  piston 
up  to  the  top  of  the  cylinder  the  steam-pipe  in- 
let is  shut  off  below  and  let  on  above.     At  the 


7  8  How  Engines  Work. 

same  time  the  exhaust-pipe  outlet  is  closed  above 
and  opened  below,  so  that  by  opening  and  shut- 
ting  these  outlets  and  inlets  the  piston  is  kept 
going  up  and  down  with  power  enough  to 
force  a  large  boat  through  the  water,  or  a  loco- 
motive with  many  cars  behind  it  along  a  rail- 
road. 


A  Steamship  and  Sailing  Vessels  on  the  Ocean. 

1 6.  Men  have  also  made  steamers  whose  out- 
side is  entirely  of  iron.    One  of  these,  the  Great 
Eastern,  is  like  a  small  village  in  the  number  of 
persons  it  can  carry. 

17.  War-steamers    of  iron   have    been  built 


Iron  Ships — Ironclads.  79 

with  very  thick   sides   so   as  to  resist  cannon- 
balls. 

1 8.  The  Devastation,  an  English  vessel  of  this  class,  has 
on  her  sides  twelve  inches  of  iron,  backed  by  eighteen 
inches  of  wood,  and  the  Dutator,  an  American  vessel, 
has  six  inches  of  iron,  backed  by  forty-two  inches  of  wood, 
making  a  very  formidable  barrier. 


The  Ironclad  "  Merrimac." 

19.  Two   of  the   most    celebrated    ironclad 
vessels  of  war  were  the  Merrimac  (or  Virgi- 
nia) and  the  Monitor. 

20.  The  former,  a  Confederate  war-vessel,  with  a  slop- 
ing roof  of   railroad    iron,   attacked   and   destroyed   the 
"Union  war-vessels   (not  ironclad)    Cumberland  and   Con- 
gress, whose  heavy  cannon-balls  glanced  harmlessly  off. 
Nothing  then  seemed  easier  than  to  destroy  all  the  other 
Union  vessels  it  could  reach ;  but  the  little  ironclad  Moni- 
tor, less  than  one-fifth  the  weight  of  the  Merrimac,  arrived 
from  New  York  just  in  the  nick  of  time.     The  two  iron- 
clads went  at  each  other,  and  for  several  hours  they  fought 
furiously.     Five  times  the  Merrimac  tried    to   run   down 
and    sink  her    brave    little    antagonist;    broadside    after 
broadside  was  hurled  at  it,  but  its  hull,  its  deck,  and  its 


80         Merrimac  and  Monitor — Docks. 

round,  revolving  turret  (small  tower)  were  too  strongly 
covered  with  plates  of  iron.  The  Merrimac  was  com- 
pelled  to  retire  from  the  contest,  which  was  her  last. 


Battle  between  the  Merrimac  ana  Monitor. 

21.  The  Monitor's  two  big  guns  were  fired  through 
openings  in  the  tower.  When  fired,  the  cannons  were 
brought  back  into  the  tower  and  the  openings  closed  by 
heavy  iron  doors. 

22.  This  famous  engagement  took  place  at 
the  mouth  of  the  James  River,  near  the  City 
of  Norfolk,  in  1862. 

23.  The  length  of   the  Monitor  was   174  feet  and  its 
width  41  feet. 

24.  A  dock  is   a  part  of  a  harbor  or  river 
which  is  enclosed    between    piers,  wharves,  or 
high  banks,  where  vessels  may  enter  to  load  or 
unload. 

25.  Some  docks  have  gates  to  close  tightly 
where  it  is  necessary  to  prevent  the  water  from 
running  out  with  the  falling  tide. 


Dry-Docks,  etc. 


Blackboard  Drawing  of  a  floating-  Dry-Dock.    Water  let  into 
dock,  which  sinks  to  receive  vessel. 

26.  A  dry-dock  is  one  from  which  the  water 
may  be  shut  out  or  pumped  out. 

27.  Some  dry-docks  are  floating  docks  like 
that  shown  in  the  chart  and  in  the  blackboard 
drawing.     Such  have  cisterns  or  hollow  spaces 
between   their   sides   or   under  the   floor,  into 
which  water  is  admitted  until  the  dock  sinks 
deep  enough  to  admit  a  vessel  needing  repairs. 


Blackboard  Drawing  of  a  floating:  Dry-Dock.    Water  pumped 
out  of  dock,  causing:  dock  to  rise,  lifting:  the  vessel. 

28.  When   the   vessel  is  properly  braced  or 


82  Dry -Docks — How  Used. 

propped  up,  the  water  is  pumped  out  by  steam, 
and  the  dock,  vessel  and  all,  rise  as  you  see  in 
the  drawing. 

29.  Some  docks  at  low  tide  are  entirely  with- 
out water.     Such  are  enclosed  by  strong  gates, 
like  those  of  canals,  which  keep  the  water  in  to 
float  the  vessels.     These  also  are  dry-docks,  al- 
though not  floating  docks. 

30.  When  a  vessel  needs  repairing  or  clean- 
ing, it  sails  in  with  the  rising  tide,  and  is  then 
propped  up.     When  the  tide  falls  the  gates  are 
opened,  and   the  water   passes   out ;    then   the 
gates  are  closed,  and  the  water  is  kept  out  until 
the  vessel   is   ready  to  sail.     These   stationary 
dry-docks  are  constructed  only  in  those  rivers 
and  bays  in  which  the  rise  and  fall  of  the  tides 
are  sufficient  for  the  purpose. 

31.  The  city  of  London,  the  largest  city  in  the  world, 
has  such  docks ;   its  tides  rise  and  fall  about  eighteen  feet. 
Such,  also,  are  the  magnificent  docks  of  tlie  city  of  Liver- 
pool, where  the  tides  rise  and  fall  fifteen  feet.     Much  of 
that  city's  importance  is  due  to  these  docks,  in  which  can 
be  seen  at  any  time  steamships  and  other  vessels  from  al- 
most every  country  in  the  world,  loading  or  unloading  their 
cargoes.      The  Brooklyn  dry-dock  is  the  finest  in  the 
United  States. 

32.  How  is  a  ship  steered?      By  means  of  a  helm,  or 
rudder. 

When  sailors  are  far  out  at  sea  and  no  land  is  in  sight, 
what  guides  have  they  in  ascertaining  the  directions  ?  The 
Stars  and  the  mariner's  compass. 


Zones  and  Climates.  83 

XXIII.     ABOUT  THE  ZONES, 

|N  the  map  of  the  world  you  may  see 
lines  crossing  from  east  to  west.  These 
lines  or  circles  divide  the  earth's  sur- 
face into  five  great  belts  or  zones,  which  differ 
greatly  in  the  amount  of  their  heat  and  cold. 

2.  The  hot  zone   is  called  the  Torrid  Zone. 
When  you  read  of  any  country   which  is  so 
warm  that   the  people  wear  the   coolest  and 
lightest    clothing,    and    where    trees,    flowers, 
and  fruits  grow  all   through  the  year  because 
no   frost   ever   touches  them,  where  beautiful 
birds  and  large,  savage  animals  are  numerous, 
where  boys  and  girls  never  enjoy  skating  or 
snowballing,  and  where  the  sun  is  sometimes 
directly   over  people's  heads,  you  may   know 
that  country  is  in  the  Torrid  Zone. 

3.  Countries  which  have  such  a  hot  climate 
are  mostly  in  Africa,  Southern  Asia,  and  South 
America. 

4.  In  some  parts  of  Africa  you  might  travel 
many  days  without   seeing  rain,  or  grass,   or 
trees,  or  anything  around  you  but  a  hot,  sandy 
desert ;  while  in  other  parts  where  there  is  rain 
with  the  intense  heat,  the  dense  forests,  high 
grass    and    warm    streams    afford    shelter    to 
countless  wild  creatures. 


84  The  Four  Seasons. 

5.  In  the  southern  parts  of  Asia  are  Arabia 
and  India,  where  the  heat  is  sometimes  fearful, 
and  where  lions,  tigers,  and  poisonous  serpents 
are  feared  by  everybody  living  there. 

6.  Nearer  us,  and  also  in  the  hot  zone,  is  the 
northern  part  of  South  America,  where  no  one 
ever  sees  any  snow  or  feels  cold  weather,  unless 
he  climb  far  up  one  of  those  huge  mountains 
whose  tops  are  always  covered  with  snow ;  that  is 
the  land  which  is  famous  for  innumerable  birds, 
fishes,  and  monkeys — the  basin  of  the  Amazon. 

7.  The  cold  zones — there  are  two  of  them — 
are  called  the  Frigid  Zones.    They  are  the  parts 
of  the  earth  furthest  from  the  hot  or  Torrid  Zone. 
One  is  north  of  the  Arctic  Circle,  and  the  other 
is  south  of  the  Antarctic  Circle.     There  men 
can  hardly  endure  the  cold.    They  wear  thick 
furs  throughout  the  year. 

8.  Only  in  the  Temperate  Zones  do  people 
enjoy  the  four  delightful  seasons — spring,  when 
the  farmer  plows  and  sows,  and  when  the  grass 
and  plants  spring  up ;  summer,  when  trees  are 
covered  with   leaves,  and  fields  with  ripening 
grain ;  autumn,  when  the  fruits    are  gathered 
and  the  leaves  fall   at  the  approach  of  frost ; 
and  winter,  when  all  nature  seems  asleep  under 
a  beautiful  white  covering  of  snow.     We  live 
in  the  North  Temperate  Zone. 


Warm  and  Cold  Climates.  85 

9.  You  have  heard  that  some  countries  are 
very  warm  at  the  same  time  that  some  other 
countries  are  very  cold.     That  is  true, 

10.  If  two  boys  should  start  from  this  coun- 
try in  the  month  of  March,  tone  for  Greenland 
and  the  other  for  South  America,  one  would 
find  it  colder  and  colder,  and  the  other  warmer 
and  warmer,  every  day. 

11.  If  each  should  write  a  letter  home  from 
there  on  New  Year's  day,  one  might  read  like 
this: 


.*>e^jt4.e'£€Zd/    6ce& 

/  ^^  •>  •/    • 

€£  d44.-a.-iu..          (uew,   -t-w,  dmnm'Ci.    -t/t  id  d-a   c 

/ 
st-   -me 


12.  The  other  boy  would  write  from  Brazil 
something  like  this : 


7-    / 

:-&/<£  1 

-~    'S'  / 

^^z  -^^T  ^  da 


86  Jack  Frost. 


^<2#£2# 


XXIV.    JACK  FROST. 

|HE  frost  looked  forth  one  still,  clear  night, 
And  whispered,  "  Now,  I   shall  be  out  of 

sight : 
So,  through  the  valley,  and  over  the  height, 

In  silence  I'll  take  my  way. 
I  will  not  go  on  like  that  blustering  train — 
The  wind  and  the  snow,  the  hail  and  the  rain — 
Which  make  so  much  bustle  and  noise  in  vain ; 
But  I'll  be  as  busy  as  they." 

Then  he  flew  to   the   mountain  and   powder'd   its 

crest, 

He  lit  on  the  trees,  and  their  boughs  he  drest 
In  diamond  beads. 

But  he  did  one  thing  that  was  hardly  fair ; 
He  peeped  in  the  cupboard,  and  finding  there 
That  all  had  forgotten  for  him  to  prepare — 

"  Now,  just  to  set  them  a  thinking, 
I'll  bite  this  basket  of  fruit,"  said  he, 
"This  costly  pitcher  I'll  burst  in  three ; 
And  the  glass  of  water  they've  left  for  me 

Shall  '  tchick  ! '  to  tell  them  I'm  drinking.'* 

HANNAH  T.  QOULD 


Rivers — How  Formed. 


Head  of  River— Cascade— Mill— Overshot  Wheel. 


XXV.     RIVERS,   CASCADES. 

1.  You   would   not   ride   far   on   a   railroad 
without  crossing  one,  perhaps   several,  rivers, 
which   are   streams   of  water    always    flowing 
toward  lower  ground.     Do  you  know  how  they 
are  formed,  where  they  come  from,  where  they 
go,  and  what  good  they  do  ? 

2.  Look    at   the    chart    and    you   will    see 
several  rivers.     Some  are  formed  by  rain  which 
sinks  into  the  ground  and   appears   again  at 
openings  in  lower  ground  as  springs,  and  others 
are  formed  far  up  the  sides  of  mountains  merely 
by  the  melting  of  snow* 


88  Rivers — Their  Uses. 

3.  On  the  chart  you  may  see  a  river  formed 
by  rain  which  falls  on  the  hills ;  and  on  the  left, 
in   front,  you  may  see  a   river  which  has   its 
source,  or   beginning,  or  head,  very  far  up  a 
mountain,  which  is  so  high  that  its  summit  or 
top  is  always  covered  with  snow. 

4.  Rivers   at   first    are    usually   very    small; 
almost  any  of  you  could  jump  or  wade  across 
them.     In  some  places  they  tumble  over  preci- 
pices, where  they  are  called  cascades  or  water- 
falls.    But  as  they  flow  on  and  down,  they  are 
joined  by  other  little  streams  coming  from  dif- 
ferent directions,  and  little  by  little  they  grow 
larger  and  deeper. 

5.  In   some  places  you 
would  find  boys  and  men 
having  fine  sport  with  their 
fishing-rods,     lines,    and 
hooks    catching   trout    or 
other  fish. 

6.  As  you  descend  the  stream,  you  may  see 
a  mill  so  built  that  the  rushing  water  may  turn 
a  great  wooden  wheel.     This  wheel  is  made 
either  with  broad  arms  like  the  paddle-wheels 
of  a  steamboat,  or  with  buckets  at  its  outer 
edge,  that  the  stream  may  so  strike  these  arms 
or  fill  the  buckets  as  to  turn    it   round   and 
round,  as  shown  on  the  next  page, 


Water-wheels — How   Used. 


Overshot-wheel.          Breast-wheel.          Undershot-wheel. 

Make  the  wheels  in  the  blackboard  drawing  12  inches  in 
diameter,  and  instruct  the  class  that  a  mill-wheel  is  about 
12  feet  in  diameter,  making  the  comparison  on  the  wall  of 
the  room. 

7.  How  this  water-wheel  turns  other  wheels 
and  the  stones  inside  the  mill  so  as  grind  wheat 
into  flour,  corn  into  meal,  or  to  saw  logs  into 
boards,  you  will  learn  in  a  lesson  further  on. 

8.  As  the  wheels  of  all  mills  are  not  turned 
by  water  in  precisely  the  same  way,  you  may 
see  from  the  blackboard  drawing  three  different 
ways  of  applying  the  water  to  the  wheels. 

9.  The  water-wheel  on  the  left  hand  of  the 
chart  is  called   an  overshot-wheel,  because  the 
water  is  shot  over  it. 

10.  When  the  water  comes  just  abreast  of  the 
axle  of  the  wheel  it  is  called  a  breast-wheel. 

11.  One  which  is  turned  by  a  stream  running 
under  it  is  called  an  undershot-wheel. 

1 2.  Such  a  one  is  used  by  the  washerwomen 
in  Paris,  where  it  is  attached  to  the  side  of  a 
large,  stout  boat  that  is  held  fast  by  anchors  or 
cables,  and  does  their  work  for  them. 


Rivers —  Their   Uses — Lumber. 


A  Pine  Forest— Lumber-men  at  Work. 

13.  This  stream  that  runs  down  hill  is  also 
very   useful    for  carrying   down    logs.     In  the 
winter,  when  the  farmers  cannot  plough  or  sow 
or  reap,  they  go  into  the  woods  and  cut  down 
trees.     The    branches   they   cut   off  and  draw 
home  for  firewood,  but  the  trunks  they  cut  up 
into   logs   of    about   thirteen   feet  or  more   in 
length,  and  then  roll  them  to  the  bank  of  the 
stream,  or  drag  them  on  the  snow  by  means  of 
oxen  or  horses.     You  may  see  some  logs  in  the 
chart,  on  the  bank  of  a  stream. 

14.  Immense  quantities  of  lumber  are  obtained  every 
year  from  the  forests  of  Michigan,  Wisconsin,  Minne- 
sota, California)  Oregon,  Maine,  and  Canada. 


Rivers  Floating  Logs  to  the  Mill.       91 


Logs  floating:  down  a  Stream. 

15.  As  soon  as  the  snow  is  melted  and  the 
streams  are  full,  so  that  they  have  plenty  of 
water  to  float  them,  the  wood-choppers  roll  the 
logs  into  the  stream,  and  away  they  go,  helter- 
skelter,  until  they  are  stopped  by  a  "boom  "  or 
stout  log  that  is  fastened  there  for  that  pur- 
pose.    Then,  one  by  one,  they  are  dragged  into 
the  saw-mill,  which  gets  all  its  power  (either 
steam  or  water-power)  from  the  same  water  that 
brought  down  the  logs. 

1 6.  When  a  log  is  fixed  securely  in  its  place, 
the  big  saw  begins  to  saw  it  up  into  boards. 
Sometimes  what  is  called  a  "  gang-saw  "  is  set 
to  work,  which  cuts  up  a  log  at  once  into  good 
boards  or  planks, 

17.  A  gang-saw  is   a  frame   full  of  saws  set  just  the 
width  of  a  board  apart.     For  what  are  boards  and  planks 
used? 


92 


Rivers — Wkat  they  Carry. 


1 8.  Some  rivers  carry  from  the  lands  through 
which    they    flow    rapidly    great    quantities    of 
soft  earth  or  mud,  called  silt,  which   they   de- 
posit at  or  near  their  mouths. 

19.  Noted    for   this   are   the    Mississippi, 
Nile,  Ganges,  Danube,  Po,  Rhone,  and 
Rhine. 

20.  The  mud  deposited  in  this  way  divides  the 
stream  at  its  mouth,  giving  it  several  mouths  ; 
the  land  so  filled  between  these  mouths  is  called 
a  delta. 

21.  The  land  on  which  the   City  of    New 
Orleans  stands,  and   for  a  long   distance  all 
around  it  and  down  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  was 
carried  there  by  the   Mississippi   River  and 
its  branches. 

22.  Look  at  the  Gulf  of  Mexico 

where  the  Mississippi  flows  into  it  and 
you  will  see  that  a  large  part  of  the 
Gulf  has  been  filled  up  in  this  way. 
The  State  of  Louisiana  is,  therefore, 
growing  larger  every  year,  and  the 
mouth  of  that  great  river  is  getting 
further  and  further  from  the  City  of 
New  Orleans.  A  like  effect  is  caused 
by  the  River  Nile  where  it  flows  into 
the  Mediterranean  Sea. 

23.  It  is  estimated  that  the  Missis- 
sippi   River    carries    down    every    five       The  Kiver  Nile. 
years  an  amount  of  silt  sufficient  to  cover  the  whole  of 
the  State  of  Rhode  Island  twelve  inches  deep. 


Overflow  of  Rivers — Levees. 


93 


Lachine  Rapids  in  the  River  St.  Lawrence. 

24.  After  long  and  heavy  rains  or  the  sudden 
melting  of  a  winter's  snow,  some  rivers  become 
so  full  that  they  overflow  their  banks,  and  the 
rush  of  their  water  over  the  low  lands  causes 
great  destruction  to  property  and  loss  of  life. 
To  prevent  this  on  the  lower  Mississippi,  men 
have  constructed  long,  high  banks,  called  levees. 

25.  Sometimes,  however,  a  bank  bursts  or  is 
washed  away,  and  the  overflow  does  immense 
damage  to  crops,  houses,  cattle,  etc. 

The  overflow  of  the  Ohio  River  in  1883  caused 
great  damage  and  suffering  to  the  inhabitants  along  its 
banks.  Thousands  of  houses  were  lifted  from  their 
foundations  and  floated  off  by  the  rising  waters. 

26.  Although  damage  is  often  done  in  this 


94  Rise  of  the  Nile — Its  Uses. 

way  by  inundations,  they  are  not  always  destruc- 
tive; indeed,  in  some  places  people  could  not 
live  without  them. 

27.  One  of  the  oldest  and  most  celebrated 
countries  in  the  world  owes  its  existence  to  the 
yearly  rise  and  overflow  of  a  river.    That  coun- 
try is  Egypt,  and  that  river,  the  Nile. 

28.  Rain  is  almost  unknown  in  Egypt,  and, 
consequently,  without   the   yearly  rise  of  the 
Nile,  that  country  would  be  a  desert. 

29.  The  Nile  rises  so  high  (30  to  35  feet) 
that  very  high  banks  have  been  constructed  in 
Egypt. 

30.  Through  gates  or  openings  in  these  banks 
and  by  means  of  small  canals  or  ditches,  the 
farmers  conduct  the  muddy  water  of  the  Nile 
to  their  farms  and  allow  it  to  flow  all  over  their 
land  and   cover  it  with  that  soft  mud  which 
makes  the  soil  very  fertile. 

31.  Dry  and  barren  lands  in  Utah  have  been  converted 
into  rich  and  productive  farms,   orchards   and   gardens, 
simply  by  water  conducted  from  mountain  streams. 

32.  The  Nile  receives  its  water  from  the  lakes  of  Cen- 
tral Africa,  which  are  supplied  by  annual  rains.     This 
river  begins  to  rise  in  Egypt  in  the  month  of  June,  and 
attains  its  greatest  height  in  September. 


River  Banks — Canons. 


95 


The  Rhine  River,  flowing-  through  Germany. 

33.  Some  rivers  are,  for  long  distances,  con- 
fined between  high,  natural  banks  or  bluffs,  like 
the  beautiful  Rhine,  which  flows  through  Ger- 
many; others  flow  between  very  high  moun- 
tains, and   in   deep  gorges   or  ravines,  called 
canons  (kan'yoni). 

34.  The  Colorado  River  (kol-o-rah' do]  is  celebrated  for 
its  great  canons  in  Colorado,   Utah,  and  Arizona. 
Many  other  rivers  in  the  Territories  of  the  United  States 
flow  through  canons. 

35.  Where  the  bed  of  a  river  is  very  rough, 


96  Rapids — Lakes. 

rocky  and  sloping,  the  water  rushes  down  vio- 
lently and  rapidly.  Such  parts  of  a  river  are 
called  rapids.  (See  rapids  in  the  chart.) 

The  St.  Lawrence   River  contains  the  celebrated 
Lachine  (lah-sheen ')  Rapids. 

36.  A  lake  is  a  body  or  collection  of  water 
which  is  formed  and  fed  by  one  or  more  rivers ; 
these  are  called  its  inlets.     The  water  of  most 
lakes  is  fresh ;  some  lakes  which  have  no  out- 
lets or  outflowing  streams  are  salt. 

37.  The  largest  fresh  water  lakes  in  the  world  are  those 
between  the   United   States  and  the   Dominion   of 
Canada ;  their  names  are  Superior,   Huron,  Michi- 
gan, Erie,  and  Ontario.     Great  Salt  Lake  is  in  Utah. 
Observe  from  the  chart  that  some  lakes  are  on  low  and 
others  on  high  ground. 

38.  Lakes  and  rivers  are  very  useful  in  many 
ways ;  people  sail  on  them  to  different  parts  of 
their  State  or  Country,  and  on  them  they  send 
and  receive  all  sorts  of  things,  such  as  food, 
clothing,  and  building  materials,  very  easily  and 
cheaply.     On  account  of  these  advantages  peo- 
ple have  built  cities,  towns,  and  villages  on  or 
near  the  banks  of  rivers  and  lakes. 

39.  This  buying,  selling,  and  trading  between  people  of 
different  States  or  Countries  is  called  commerce.     Com- 
merce is  carried  on  also  by  way  of  railroads  and  canals 
and  the  great  ocean  or  sea.     (You  will  learn  about  canals 
in  Chapter  XXXV.) 


A  Canoe  Running  the  Rapids.  97 


The  Hudson  Biver  as  it  passes  through  the  AdirouclaQks. 


g8  Song  of  the  Brook. 

XXVI.    SONG   OF   THE    BROOK. 

COME  from  haunts1  of  coot2  and  hern-£ 

I  make  a  sudden  sally 
And  sparkle  out  among  the  fern, 
To  bicker  down  a  valley. 

By  thirty  hills  I  hurry  down, 

Or  slip  between  the  ridges, 
By  twenty  thorps,4  a  little  town, 

And  half  a  hundred  bridges. 

Till  last  by  Philip's  farm  I  flow 
To  join  the  brimming  river, 

For  men  may  come  and  men  may  go, 
But  I  go  on  forever. 

I  chatter  over  stony  ways, 

In  little  sharps  and  trebles, 
I  bubble  into  eddying  bays, 

I  babble  on  the  pebbles. 

With  many  a  curve  my  banks  I  fret 

By  many  a  field  and  fallow, 
And  many  a  fairy  foreland  set 

With  willow-weed  and  mallow. 

I  chatter,  chatter  as  I  flow 
To  join  the  brimming  river  ; 

For  men  may  come  and  men  may  go, 
But  I  go  on  forever. 

1  Haunt,  hdnt,  a  place  to  which  one  frequently  resorts. 

2  Coot,  kooti'&  water-fowl.       3  Hern,  hum,  a  her'on,  a  wading  bird. 

4  Thorp,  a  hamlet  or  small  village. 


Song  of  the  Brook.  99 

I  wind  about,  and  in  and  out, 

With  here  a  blossom  sailing, 
And  here  and  there  a  lusty  trout 

And  here  and  there  a  grayling. 

And  here  and  there  a  foamy  flake 

Upon  me,  as  I  travel 
With  many  a  silvery  waterbreak 

Above  the  golden  gravel. 

And  draw  them  all  along,  and  flow 

To  join  the  brimming  river, 
For  men  may  come  and  men  may  go 

But  I  go  on  forever. 

I  steal  by  lawns  and  grassy  plots, 

I  slide  by  hazel  covers ; 
I  move  the  sweet  forget-me-nots 

That  grow  for  happy  lovers. 

I  slip,  I  slide,  I  gloom,  I  glance, 
Among  my  skimming  swallows, 

I  make  the  netted  sunbeam  dance 
Against  my  sandy  shallows. 

I  murmur  under  moon  and  stars 

In  brambly  wildernesses ; 
I  linger  to  my  shingly  bars ; 

I  loiter  round  my  cresses ; 

And  out  again  I  curve  and  flow 

To  join  the  brimming  river, 
For  men  may  come  and  men  may  go, 

But  I  go  on  forever.  TENNYSOK 

ALFRED  TENNYSON,  an  English  poet,  born  in 


Of   Till 


IOO 


The  Brook  and  Wee  Elsie. 


XXVII.     BROOK    AND    WEE    ELSIE 

BROOK  and  wee  Elsie 
Were  playing  together, 
One  frolicsome  day 
Of  the  sunshiny  weather, 
At  "tag"  and  "bo-peep;" 

Naughty  creatures  were  they, 
For  the  brook  and  wee  Elsie 
Had  both  run  away. 

One  time,  when  they  paused 

In  a  lovely,  cool  place, 
Elsie  saw  in  the  water 

Her  round  dimpled  face  ; 


The  Brook  and  Wee  Elsie.  101 

And  "  How  funny  ! "  she  said, 

With  a  wondering  look, — 
"  Now,  how  could  my  face 

Get  into  the  brook  ? " 

A  half  minute  later, 

A  gypsying  bee 
Left  Elsie  in  tears, 

Sorry  object  to  see. 
"  Here's  another  queer  problem," 

The  little  brook  cries ; 
"  Now,  how  did  I  ever 

Get  into  her  eyes  ?  " 

CARRIE  W.  THOMPSON. 


A   SNOW-FLAKE. 

NCE  he  sang  of  summer, 
Nothing  but  the  summer ; 
Now  he  sings  of  winter, 

Of  winter  bleak  and  drear : 

Just  because  there's  fallen 

A  snow-flake  on  his  forehead 

He  must  go  and  fancy 

T  is  winter  all  the  year ! 

T.  B.  ALDRICH. 


IO2  The  Lumbermen. 


XXVIII.    THE    LUMBERMEN. 

|lLDLY  round  our  woodland  quarters 

Sad-voiced  autumn  grieves ; 
Thickly  down  these  swelling  waters 
Float  his  fallen  leaves. 
Through  the  tall  and  naked  timber, 

Column-like  and  old ; 
Gleam  the  sunsets  of  November, 
From  their  skies  of  gold. 

O'er  us,  to  the  southland  heading 

Screams  the  gray  wild-goose  ; 
On  the  night-frost  sounds  the  treading 

Of  the  brindled  moose. 
Noiseless  creeping  while  we're  sleeping, 

Frost  his  task-work  plies ; 
Soon  his  icy  bridges  heaping, 

Shall  our  log-piles  rise. 

When,  with  sounds  of  smothered  thunder, 

On  some  night  of  rain, 
Lake  and  river  break  asunder 

Winter's  weakened  chain, 
Down  the  wild  March  flood  shall  bear  them 

To  the  saw-mill's  wheel, 
Or  where  steam,  the  slave,  shall  tear  them, 

With  his  teeth  of  steel. 


The  Lumbermen.  103 

Be  it  starlight,  be  it  moonlight, 

In  these  vales  below, 
When  the  earliest  beams  of  sunlight 

Streak  the  mountain's  snow, 
Crisps  the  hoar-frost,  keen  and  earlyv 

To  our  hurrying  feet, 
And  the  forest  echoes  clearly 

All  our  blows  repeat. 

Make  we  here  our  camp  of  winter ; 

And,  through  sleet  and  snow, 
Pitchy  knot  and  beechen  splinter 

On  our  hearth l  shall  glow. 
Here,  with  mirth  to  lighten  duty, 

We  shall  lack  alone 
Woman's  smile  and  girlhood's  beauty, 

Childhood's  lisping  tone. 

But  their  hearth  is  brighter  burning 

For  our  toil  to-day ; 
And  the  welcome  of  returning 

Shall  our  loss  repay, 
When,  like  seamen  from  the  waters, 

From  the  woods  we  come, 
Greeting  sisters,  wives,  and  daughters, 

Angels  of  our  home  ! 

WHITTIER, 

JOHN  GREENLEAF  WHITTIER,  an  American  poet,  born  in  Massa- 
chusetts in  1807.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends 
(Quakers).  He  worked  on  the  farm  till  his  twentieth  year,  when 
he  entered  the  Haverhill  Academy.  He  afterward  became  editor 
and  poet. 

1  Hearth,  harth. 


IO4  Scene  at  Niagara  Falls. 


XXIX.    SCENE  AT  NIAGARA  FALLS. 

|T  is  summer.  A  party  of  visitors  are  just 
crossing  the  iron  bridge  that  extends  from 
the  American  shore  to  Goat  Island,  about 
a  quarter  of  a  mile  above  the  falls.  Just  as  they 
are  about  to  leave,  while  watching  the  stream  as  it 
plunges  and  dashes  among  the  rocks  below,  the  eye 
of  one  fastens  on  something  clinging  to  a  rock — 
caught  on  the  very  verge  of  the  falls. 

2.  Scarcely  willing  to  believe  his  own  vision,  he 
directs  the  attention  of  his  companions. 

3.  The  terrible  news  spreads  like  lightning,  and 
in  a  few  minutes  the  bridge  and  the  surrounding 
shore   are   covered    with    thousands   of    spectators. 
"  Who  is  he  ?  "    "  How  did  he  get  there  ?  "  are  ques- 
tions every  person  proposed,  but  answered  by  none. 

4.  No  voice  is  heard  above  the  awful  flood,  but  a 
spy-glass   shows    frequent   efforts  to   speak   to  the 
gathering  multitude.     Such   silent   appeals   exceed 
the  eloquence  of  words ;  they  are  irresistible,  and 
something  must  be  done. 

5.  A  small  boat  is  soon  upon  the  bridge,  and  with 
a  rope  attached  sets  out  upon   its  fearless  voyage, 
but  is  instantly   sunk.     Another   and   another   are 
tried,  but  they  are  all  swallowed  up  by  the  angry 
waters.     A  large  one  might  possibly  survive ;   but 
none  is  at  hand. 


These  falls,  one  of  the  wonders  of  the  world,  are  In  the  Niagara  River, 
between  New  York  and  Canada.    Their  height  is  160  feet 


Scene  at  Niagara  Falls.  105 

6.  Away  to  Buffalo  a  car  is  dispatched,  and  never 
did   the  iron-horse  thunder   along   its   steel-bound 
track  on  such  a  godlike  mission.     Soon   the  most 
competent  life-boat  is  upon  the  spot. 

7.  All  eyes  are  fixed  upon  the  object,  as,  trenu 
bling  and  tossing  amid  the  boiling  white  waves,  it 
survives  the  roughest  waters.     One  breaker  past  and 
it  will  have  reached  the  object  of  its  mission.     But 
being  partly  filled  with  water  and  striking  a  sunken 
rock,  the  next  wave  sends  it  hurling  to  the  bottom. 

8.  An  involuntary  groan  passes  through  the  dense 
multitude,  and   hope   scarcely   nestles   in   a   single 
bosom.     The  sun  goes  down  in  gloom,  and  as  dark- 
ness  comes   on   and    the  crowd  begins  to  scatter, 
methinks  the  angels  looking  over  the  battlements 
on  high  drop  a  tear  of  pity  on  the  scene.     The  sil- 
very stars  shine  dimly  through  their  curtain  of  blue. 

9.  Long  before  morning  he  must  be  swept  over 
that  dreadful  abyss ;  he  clings  to  that  rock  with  all 
the  tenacity  of  life,  and  as  he  surveys  the  horrors  of 
his  position  strange  visions  in  the  air  come  looming 
up  before  him.     He  sees   his  home,  his  wife   and 
children  there ;  he  sees  the  home  of  his  childhood ; 
he  sees  that  mother  as  she  used  to  soothe  his  child- 
ish fears  upon  her  breast  ;  he  sees  a  watery  grave, 
and  then  the  vision  closes  in  tears. 

10.  No  sooner  does  morning  dawn  than  the  mul- 
titude again  rush  to  the  scene  of  horror.     Soon  a 
shout  is  heard;  he  is  there — he  is  still  alive!     Just 
now  a  carriage  arrives  upon  the  bridge,  and  a  woman 
leaps  from  it  and  rushes  to  the  most  favorable  point 
of  observation. 


io6  Scene  at  Niagara  Falls. 

11.  All  eyes  are  turned  for  a  moment  toward  the 
anxious  woman,  and  no  sooner  is  the  glass  handed 
to  her,  fixed  upon  the  object,  than  she  shrieks,  "  Oh, 
my  husband  !  "  and  sinks  senseless  to  the  earth. 

12.  The  excitement,  before  intense,    seems   now 
almost  unendurable,  and  something  must  again  be 
tried.     A  small  raft  is  constructed,  and,  to  the  sur- 
prise of  all,  swings  up  beside  the  rock  to  which  the 
sufferer  has  clung  for  the  last  forty-eight  hours.     He 
instantly  throws  himself  full  length  upon  it. 

13.  Thousands  are  pulling  at  the  end  of  the  rope, 
and  with  skillful  management  a  few  rods  are  gained 
toward  the  nearest  shore. 

14.  What  tongue  can  tell,  what  pencil  can  paint, 
the  anxiety  with  which  that  little  bark  is  watched 
as,  trembling  and  tossing  amid  the  roughest  waters, 
it  nears  that  rock-bound  coast  ? 

15.  Save  Niagara's  eternal  roar,  all  is  silent  as  the 
grave.     His  wife  sees  it  and  is  only  restrained  by 
force  from  rushing  into  the  river.     Hope  instantly 
springs  into  every  bosom,  but  it  is  only  to  sink  into 
deeper  gloom.     The  angel  of  death  has  spread  his 
wings  over  that  little  bark  ;  the  poor  man's  strength 
is  almost  gone ;  each  wave  lessens  his  grasp,  but  all 
will  be  safe  if  that  nearest  wave  is  past. 

1 6.  But  that  next  surging  billow  breaks  his  hold 
upon   the  pitching   timbers,  and   hurls  him  to   the 
awful  verge,  where,  with  body  erect,  hands  clenched, 
and  eyes  that  are  taking  their  last  look  of  earth,  he 
sinks  forever  from  the  gaze  of  man. 

CHARLES  TARSON. 


The  Wafer-Mill.  107 


XXX.    THE   WATER-MILL. 

|H  !  listen  to  the  water-mill,  through  all  the 

live-long  day, 

As  the  clicking  of  the  wheels  wears  hour  by 
hour  away ; 

How  languidly  the  autumn  wind  doth  stir  the  with- 
ered leaves, 
As  on  the  field  the  reapers  sing,  while  binding  up 

the  sheaves ! 
A  solemn  prov'erb  strikes  my  mind,  and  as  a  spell  is 

cast, — 

"  The  mill  will  never  grind  again  with  water  that  is 
past." 

Oh  !  clasp  the  proverb  to  thy  soul,  dear  loving  heart 

and  true, 
For  golden  years  are  fleeting  by,  and  youth  is  passing 

too ; 
Ah !   learn  to  make  the  most  of  life,  nor  lose  one 

happy  day, 
For  time   will   ne'er  return  sweet  joys   neglected, 

thrown  away ; 
Nor  leave  one  tender  word  unsaid,  thy  kindness  sow 

broadcast, — 
"  The  mill  will  never  grind  again  with  water  that  is 

past." 

Oh!  the  wasted  hours  of  life,  that  have  swiftly 
drifted  by, 

Alas !  the  good  we  might  have  done,  all  gone  with- 
out a  sigh ; 


io8  The  Water-Mill. 

Love  that  we  might  once  have  saved  by  a  single 

kindly  word, 
Thoughts  conceived  but  ne'er  expressed,  perishing 

unpenned,  unheard. 

Oh !  take  the  lesson  to  thy  soul,  forever  clasp  it  fast, 
"  The  mill  will  never  grind  again  with  water  that  is 

past."  

Work  on  while  yet  the  sun  doth  shine,  thou  man  of 

strength  and  will, 
The  streamlet  ne'er  doth  useless  glide  by  clicking 

water-mill ; 
Nor  wait  until  to-morrow's  light  beams  brightly  on 

thy  way. 
For  all  that  thou  canst  call  thine  own,  lies  in  the 

phrase  "  to-day :  " 
Posses'sions,  power,  and  blooming  health,  must  all 

be  lost  at  last, — 
"  The  mill  will  never  grind  again  with  water  that  is 

past."  

Oh !  love  thy  God  and  fellow  man,  thyself  consider 

last, 
For  come  it  will  when  thou  must  scan  dark  errors  of 

the  past ; 
Soon  will  this  fight  of  life  be  o'er,  and  earth  recede 

from  view, 
And  heaven  in  all  its  glory  shine  where  all  is  pure 

and  true. 
Ah !     then  thou'lt  see  more  clearly  still  the  proverb 

deep  and  vast, 
"  The  mill  will  never  grind  again  with  water  that  is 

past."  D.    C.    McCALLUM- 


How  Windmills  Work. 


109 


XXXI.    THE   WINDMILL. 


i.  HERE  is  a 

vvindmill.  This 
is  a  machine  by 
means  of  which 
we  take  hold  of 
the  wind,  that 
we  cannot  see, 
and  make  it  do 


Taking  Sugrar  Cane  to  the  Mill. 

work  that  we  can  see.  Windmills  are  often 
used  in  this  country  to  grind  wheat  into  flour, 
and  corn  into  meal,  and  to  crush  sugar  cane. 

2.  The  large  sails  of  the  windmill  turn  a  large 
shaft  with  a  cog-wheel — that  is,  a  strong  iron 
wheel  with  teeth,  called  cogs,  all  around  it. 
These  teeth,  or  cogs,  fit  into  the  cogs  of  other 


1 10      Windmills  used  for  Making  Flour. 


Blackboard  Drawing.     Cog-wheels.     Draw  them  by  means  of 
chalk  and  a  piece  of  cord. 


wheels  and  make  them  go  round,  so  that  you 
can  change  in  any  way  that  is  necessary  the 
direction  of  the  moving  wheels.  Thus  a  very 
large,  round,  and  flat  stone  with  a  hole  in  the 
middle  is  made  to  turn  around  above  another 
stone  and  very  close  to  it. 

3.  If  wheat  is  poured  into  the  hole  in  the 
upper  millstone  it  gets  down  between  the  stones, 
and  there,  as  this  upper  millstone  turns  around, 
the  wheat  is  ground  into  flour,  which  drops  out 
all  around  the  edges  of  the  stone.  Sometimes 
this  is  done  by  steam-mills.  This  flour  is  sifted, 
and  put  into  barrels,  and  then  sold  to  those  wTho 
wish  to  make  bread,  biscuit,  cakes,  pies,  or  any- 
thing else  from  it.  (See  picture  on  p.  16.) 


The  earth  gives  the  grain;  fire  gives  its  power  to  the  steam-mill,  and  is  used 
in  baking  the  bread;  water  must  be  mixed  with  the  flour  to  make  dough;  air 
must  be  got  into  the  dough  so  as  to  raise  it  up  and  make  it  light;  air  also  helps 
the  windmill  to  grind  the  flour ;  it  is,  therefore,  clear  that  fire,  air,  earth,  and 
water  all  contribute  to  the  making  of  our  bread. 


Windmills  in  Foreign  Countries.      1 1 1 

4.  In  Holland,  where    the   land    in   some 
places  is  lower  than  the  surface  of  the  sea,  hun- 
dreds of  windmills  are  placed  along  the  dikes 
for  the  same  purpose.    They  can  also  be  seen 
in  this  country  near  some  large  country-seats, 
where  they  are  used  to  pump  up  water,  so  that 
it  may  be  had  in  the  highest    stories  of  the 
houses. 

5.  Near  one  of  the  Prussian  palaces  in  Pots- 
dam stands  a  celebrated  windmill.     Frederick 
the  Great  desired  to  purchase  it,  that  he  might 
pull  it  down  for  the  purpose  of  extending  his 
gardens  in  that  direction ;  the  miller  refused, 
and  the  king  brought  a  suit  against  him,  but 
was  beaten  in  the  court. 

6.  He  then  erected  for  the  miller  the  pres- 
ent large  mill,  as  a  mon- 
ument of  Prussian  jus- 
tice.   Some  years  since, 

the  owner,  having  met 
with  reverses,  offered  to 
sell  the  mill  to  the  king, 
who  immediately  set- 
tled enough  on  the  mil- 
ler to  defray  his  debts, 
saying  the  mill  belonged 
to  Prussian  history,  and 
should  not  be  removed. 


112  A  Rain  Storm  in  Japan. 


XXXII.    A   RAIN   STORM   IN  JAPAN 

]N  the  midst  of  this  sublime  scenery,  and  at 
the  very  top  of  the  pass,  the  rain,  which 
had  been  light  but  steady  during  the  whole 

day,  began  to  come  down   in  streams  and  then  in 

sheets. 

2.  I  had  been  so  rained  upon  for  weeks  that  at 
first  I  took  little  notice  of  it,  but  very  soon  changes 
occurred  before  my  eyes   which   concentrated   my 
attention. 

3.  The  rush  of  waters  was  heard  everywhere,  trees 
of  great  size  slid  down,  breaking  others  in  their  fall ; 
rocks  were  rent  and    carried    away   trees    in   their 
descent,  and  the  waters  rose  before  our  eyes. 

4.  With  a  boom  and  roar  as  of  an  earthquake  a 
hillside  burst,  and  half  the  hill,  with  a  noble  forest, 
was   projected   outwards,    and   the   trees,  with   the 
land  on  which  they  grew,  went  down  head  foremost, 
diverting  a  river   from   its  course ;    and  where  the 
forest-covered  hillside  had  been  there  was  left  a  great 
scar,  out  of  which  a  torrent   burst  at  high  pressure, 
carving  for  itself  a  deep  ravine,  and  carrying  into  the 
valley  below  a  landslide  of  stones  and  sand. 

5.  Another  hillside  descended  less  abruptly,  and 
its  noble  groves  found  themselves  at  the  bottom  in 
a  perpendicular  position,  and  will  doubtless  survive 
their  transplantation. 

1  Sub-lime',  grand. 

9  Earth'quake,  violent  shaking  of  a  part  of  the  earth. 


Landslips — Bridges  Carried  Away.  113 

6.  Actually,  before  my  eyes,  this  fine  new  road 
torn  away  by  hastily  im'provised  torrents,   or 

blocked  by  landslips  in  different  places,  and  a  little 
lower,  in  one  moment,  a  hundred  yards  of  it  dis- 
appeared, and  with  them  a  fine  bridge,  which  was 
deposited  across  the  torrent  lower  down. 

7.  On  the  descent,   when  things   began  to  look 
very  alarming,  and  the  mountain-sides  had  become 
cascades  bringing  trees,  logs,  and  rocks  down  with 
them,  we  were  fortunate  enough  to  meet  with  two 
pack-horses   whose    leaders   were    ignorant   of    the 
impassability  of  the  road. 

8.  They  said,  if  we  hurried,  we  could  just  get  to 
the  hamlet  they  had  left,  but  while  they  spoke  the 
road  and  the  bridge  below  were  carried  away.    They 
insisted  on  lashing  me  to  the  pack-saddle  for  my 
safety.     The  great  stream,  whose  beauty  I  had  for- 
merly admired,  was  now  a  thing  of  dread,  and  had 
to  be  crossed  four  times  without  fords. 

9.  It  crashed  and  thundered,  drowning  the  feeble 
sound    of    human    voices ;    the    torrents   from    the 
heavens  hissed  through  the  forests,  trees  and  logs 
came  crashing  down  the  hillsides,  a  thousand  cas- 
cades added  to  the  din,  and  in  our  bewilderment  we 
stumbled  through  the  river,  the  men  up  to  their 
shoulders,  the  horses  up  to  their  backs. 

10.  Again  and  again  we  crossed.    The  banks  being 
carried  away,  it  was  very  difficult  to  get  either  into 
or  out  of  the  water  ;  the  horses  had  to  scramble  or 
jump  up  places  as  high  as  their  shoulders,  all  slippery 
and  crumbling,  and  twice  the  men  cut  steps  for  them 
with  axes. 


114  Rush  of  the  Torrent. 

11.  The  rush  of  the  torrent  at  the  last  crossing 
taxed  the  strength  of  both  men  and  horses,  and  as 
I  was  helpless  from  being  tied  on,  I  confess  that  I 
shut  my  eyes ! 

12.  After   getting   through,  we  came   upon   the 
lands  belonging  to  this  village — rice  fields  with  the 
dikes  burst,  and  all  the  beautiful  ridge  and  furrow 
cultivation  of  the  other  crops  carried  away. 

13.  The  waters  were  rising  fast,  the  men  said  we 
must  hurry ;  they  unbound  me,  so  that  I  might  ride 
more  comfortably,  spoke  to  the  horses  and  went  on 
at  a  run. 

14.  My  horse,  which  had  nearly  worn  out  his  shoes 
in  the  fords,  stumbled  at  every  step. 

15.  A  noose  of  rope  was  given  me  to  clutch.    The 
rain  fell  in  such  torrents  that  I  speculated  on  the 
chance  of  being  washed  from  my  saddle,  when  sud- 
denly I  saw  a  shower  of  sparks. 

16.  I    felt    unutterable    things;    I    was    choked, 
bruised,  stifled,   and  presently  found   myself  being 
hauled  out  of  a  ditch  by  three  men,  and  realized 
that  the  horse  had  stumbled  in  going  down  a  steep 
hill,  and  that  I  had  gone  over  his  head. 

From  Miss  Bird's  "  UNBEATEN  TRACKS  IN  JAPAN." 


About  Wells. 


Section  of  the  Ground  or  Rock,  showing  how  Wells  are  supplied. 

A,  Ground  or  rock  through  which  the  rain-water  sinks. 
C,  Rock  or  clay^  which  the  water  does  not  enter. 

B,  The  part  in  which  the  water  rests  or  flows. 


XXXIII.    WELLS,   SPRINGS,   ETC. 

1.  You   already  know   that   people  obtain 
fresh   water    from    springs,   lakes,   and  rivers. 
Where  else  is   fresh  water   obtained?  From 
wells. 

2.  When  it  rains,  some  of  the  water  runs  along  on  the 
surface  or  top  of  the  ground  and  finds  its  way  to  a  river ; 
some  of  it  is  "  dried  up  "  or  becomes  vapor  (page  16) ;  and 
a  great  deal  "  soaks  away,"  or  sinks  down  into  the  ground. 
Where  does  that  go  ?     How  far  does  it  go  ?     It  finds  its 


u6  Pumps — Pressure  of  Air. 

way  down  either  through  soft,  loose  ground  or  gravel,  or 
through  crevices  in  the  rock,  and  continues  to  sink  until  it 
is  stopped  by  rock  or  clay,  which  it  cannot  penetrate. 
Therefore,  if  you  should  dig  a  pit  or  well  down  to  a  layer 
of  sand  in  which  the  water  rests  or  moves,  some  of  it  will, 
of  course,  flow  into  the  well. 

3.  Water    is    brought    up   from  a  well   by 
means  of  a  bucket,  or  a  chain  pump,  or  a  suc- 
tion pump. 

4.  A  chain  pump  is  composed  of  an  endless 
chain,  which  runs  through  a  pipe. 

5.  A   suction    pump   is   one   in    which   the 
water  is  made  to  rise  by  the  weight  or  pressure 
of  the  air. 

6.  Air  is  everywhere,  until  it  is  displaced  by 
something  else ;  a  cup  or  a  pitcher,  when  said 
to  be  empty,  is  full  of  air. 

7.  Air  has  weight,  and    is  moved    just    as 
water  and  sand  have  weight  and  are  moved. 
Like  water,  air  can  be  pumped. 

8.  Air  rests  or  presses  on  the  land  and  also 
on  the  water  in  the  ocean,  a  cup,  or  a  deep 
well. 

9.  If  you  should   remove   the  air  from  any 
spot  on  the  water,  you  would  see  the  water 
suddenly  rise  just  at  that   spot,  showing  the 
pressure  of  the  air  on  the  surrounding  portions. 


How  Water  is  Pumped.  117 

10.  If  you  should  suck  the  air  from  a  straw 
which  has  one  end  in  a 

cup  of  water,  you  would 
see  the  effect  of  air  pres- 
sure in  the  rising  of  the 
water  in  the  straw. 

11.  When  a  pump  is 
thus   placed   in   a  well, 
and     the  -air    removed 
from  it,  the  water  rises, 
because   the    air  which 
rests  on  the  water  in  the 
well  presses  it  up. 

12.  In  the  first  draw- 
ing,  the   water   in    the 
well    and    that    in   the 
pump  are  on  the  same 
level,     because     air    is 

pressing     down      equally      Bod  going  down-uppervalve 

on  the  water  both  in- 


(!N  BLACKBOARD  DRAWINGS,  MAKE 
Side     and    OUtside  Of    the      THE  PuMP  ™IRTY  INCHES  IN  LENGTH 

AND     THREE     INCHES    IN     DIAMETER; 
A*10  ™E  WELL  TEN  INCHES  IN  DIAM- 


13.  The  pump  is  provided  with  two  little 
trap-doors  called  valves,  which  fit  tightly.  The 
lower  valve  is  fixed,  the  other  is  moved  up  and 
down  by  means  of  an  iron  rod  attached  to  the 
handle. 


lip  Valves —  Vacuum.  f 

14.  The  upper  valve  removes  the  air  from 
the  pump,  and  immedi- 
ately the  water  is  pressed 
up  and  flows  out  at  the 
spout. 

15.  The  valves  are  so 
made  that  the  water  and 
air  by  pressing  upwards 
open     them  -  and    rise 
above     them,     but    by 
pressing  downward, 
close    them ;    therefore, 
the  valves  prevent  the 
return     of    the     water 
through  the  pump  into 
the  well. 

1 6.  When  the  upper 
valve  goes  down,   it  is 

Bod  coming  up— upper  vaive    opened  by  the  rush  of 

closed— Lower  Valve  open.  .  , 

air  upward,  but  when  it 

rises  it  is  closed  by  the  pressure  of  the  air  above 
it;  a  few  strokes  in  this  way  remove  the  air 
from  within  the  pump,  and  the  consequence  is 
that  the  air  in  the  well,  but  outside  of  the  pump, 
forces  the  water  upward  to  fill  the  vac'-u-um. 

17.  Any  space  which  contains  nothing — not  even  ajr-=- 
js  caJJec}  a  vacuum. 


\  »  n  M  n  y 
or  THH 

UNI'VERSn 


Artesian  Wells. 


1  8.  A  vacuum  may  be  formed  by  sucking  the  air  from  a 
small  glass  bottle,  and  the  effect  of  the  pressure  of  the 
surrounding  air  will  be  felt  on  your  lips  or  tongue,  perhaps 
painfully:  and,  if  the  glass  be  very  thin,  that  pressure 
may  crush  the  bottle. 


Artesian  'Wells:— A,  A,  A,  Bock  or  clay  which  water  cannot 
penetrate ;— B,  B,  Seams  or  Strata  in  which  Subterranean 
Streams  flow;— C,  Subterranean  Reservoir  filled  with  Water 
by  Rains ;— D,  D,  Boring-s  in  the  Ground  or  Rock. 

19.  A  piece  of  leather,  soaked  in  water  and  pressed 
down  on  a  smooth  pavement,  adheres  tightly  to  it  by  the 
pressure  of  the  air  on  it.    In  this  case  a  vacuum  is  formed 
between  the  leather  or  sucker  and  the  pavement. 

20.  In  some  places  men  bore  deep  holes  in  the  rock  or 
ground,  from  which  the  water  spurts  up  like  fountains. 
Such  are  called  Artesian  Wells.     They  are  not  dug  like 
common  wells,  but  are  drilled  by  long,  sharp  bars  of  iron 
or  steel,  aoout  as  thick  as  a  man's  arm. 


120  Oil  Wells— Petroleum. 

21.  These  drilling  or  boring  tools  are  lifted  up  into  a 
high  wooden  tower  by  machinery,  and  let  fall,  as  rocks  are 
drilled  for  blasting.     (Such  a  tower  you  may  see  in  the 
chart.) 

22.  As  soon  as  the  bore  enters  a  seam  or  channel  in 
which  water  is  confined  by  surrounding  rock  or  clay,  the 
water  is  pressed  upward  through  this  small  opening.    The 
pressure  is  exerted  by  the  water  which  lies  in  these  same 
underground  channels  and  reservoirs  on  higher  ground. 

23.  The  underground  seams  serve  as  great  pipes  in 
holding  and  conducting  water  to  great  distances  ;  and  an 
Artesian  well  is  like  a  burst  in  a  pipe. 

24.  Artesian  wells  have  been  bored  to  depths  of  hun- 
dreds and  even  thousands  of  feet.     By  means  of  them  an 
abundance  of  water  is  obtained  even  in  deserts. 

25.  It  is  from  such  wells  as  these  that  the  oil 
called  petroleum  is  obtained,  which  is  used  for 
oiling  machinery  and  for  burning  in  lamps.     It 
is  from  this  that  kerosene  is  now  made. 

26.  The  oil  wells  of  Pennsylvania,  Ohio  and  West 
Virginia  furnish  Europe  with  about  fifty  million  dollars' 
($50,000,000)  worth  of  oil  every  year. 

27.  The  origin  of  petroleum  or  rock-oil  is  variously 
attributed  to  vegetable,  animal  and  mineral  substances, 
which  may  have  sunk,  many  years  ago,  below  the  earth's 
surface. 

28.  Some  wells  yield  salt  water,  from  which  salt  is 
obtained  (pages  22  and  23).     Large  quantities  of  salt  are 
thus  made  in  New  York,  West  Virginia  and  Michigan, 


Capes — Isthmuses — Straits,  1 1 1 


XXXIV.     CAPES,    ISLANDS,   ETC. 

1.  Points   of  land   which   project  into   the 
water  are  called  Capes.    A  high  cape  is  called 
a  Promontory.     A  light-house  is  seen  in  the 
Chart  on  a  Promontory :  and  another  on  one 
of  the  capes. 

Two   of  the  best  known  capes  are  Cape 
Horn  and  Cape  Good  Hope. 

2.  A  narrow  neck  or  strip  of  land  is  called 
an  Isthmus ;  and  a  narrow  passage  of  water 
is  called  a  Strait,  sometimes  a  Channel.      A 
well  known  isthmus  is  that  of  Panama,  or 
Darien,  which  joins  North  and  South  America. 
A  well  known  strait  is  that  of  Gibraltar,  which 
connects  the  Mediterranean   Sea  with  the 
Atlantic  Ocean ;  another  is  Behring  Strait, 
which  separates  North  America  from  Asia  and 
connects  the  Arctic  with  the   Pacific   Ocean; 
another,  called  Davis  Strait,  conn'ects  Baffin 
Bay  with   the   Atlantic;    and   another,  called 
Hudson  Strait,  connects  Hudson  Bay  with 
the  Atlantic. 

3.  These  straits  received  their  names  from 
distinguished  navigators  who  discovered  them. 


Islands — Peninsulas—  Tunnels. 

4.  Hudson  entered  Hudson  Strait  and  dis- 
covered Hudson  Bay,  which  he  thought  was 
the  Pacific  Ocean ;  but,  of  course,  he  was  mis- 
taken.    He  also  explored  Hudson  River. 

5.  What  is  the  difference  between  an  Island 
and  a  Peninsula?     An  Island  is  entirely  sur- 
rounded by  water,  and  a  Peninsula  is  almost 
surrounded  by  water. 

On  a  map  of  the  world  you  may  find  the 
following  islands : 

6.  Australia,  which  is  the  largest  island  in  the  world, 
and  is  celebrated  for  its  rich  gold  mines  and  large  flocks  of 
sheep.     Borneo,  which  is  crossed  by  the  Equator  and  is 
very  hot.     The  British  Isles,  which  include  England, 
Scotland,   Wales,   and   Ireland.     The   Japan    Islands, 
which  have  almost  as  many  inhabitants  as  the  United 
States.     The  West  Indies,  which  have  a  warm  climate 
and  produce  sugar  and  oranges.     The  Friendly  and  the 
Society  Islands,  also  warm,  which  produce  bananas 
and  cocoanuts. 

7.  A  little  west  of  the  center  of  the  Chart  you 
may  see  a  Tunnel  cut  through  the  solid  rock 
for  trains  to  pass  through.     A  celebrated  tun- 
nel is  in  the  western  part  of  Massachusetts.    It 
is  cut  through  the  mountains  and  is  nearly  five 
miles  long;    it  is  the  Hoosac  Tunnel.     The 
Mount  Cenis  (se-ne'}  tunnel  through  the  Alps 
is   nearly  eight  miles  long.      Several  tunnels 


Emigrants. 


123 


pass  under  the  Thames,  the  river  which  flows 
through  the  city  of  London.  It  is  proposed  to 
construct  a  railroad  tunnel  under  the  Hudson 
River  between  New  York  and  Jersey  City. 


Emigrants  crossing:  the  Mountains— a  Mountain  Pass. 

8.  Not  far  from  the  tunnel  you  may  see  a 
company  of  emigrants*  on  their  way  west.  They 
may  be  from  some  of  the  large  cities  of  the 
States,  or  they  may  have  lately  arrived  in  this 
country  from  Germany,  England,  Sweden,  Nor- 
way, or  other  part  of  Europe,  intending  to  buy 
land  in  one  of  our  Western  States  or  Terri- 
tories and  become  industrious  farmers. 

*  In  the  Country  or  State  which  they  leave  they  are  called  Emigrants;  in 
that  which  they  enter,  Immigrants. 


124 


View  on  a  Canal. 


Canals ;    Their  Uses.  125 

XXXV.     CANALS. 

|N  the  chart  you  may  see  a  canal  with 
several  locks   and   gates.     Canal-boats 
are  drawn  by  horses  or  mules.     Some 
are  moved  by  steam.    Canals  are  artificial  rivers. 

2.  There  is  one  in  the  State  of  New  York 
that  is  three  hundred  and  fifty-two  miles  long. 
It  reaches  from  Lake  Erie  to  the  Hudson 
River ;  and  this  canal  has  done  much  to  make 
the  city,  as  well  as  the  State,  of  New  York  so 
large  and  wealthy  as  it  is. 

3.  If  you  will  look  at  your  map  you  will  see 
that   any  kind  of  produce   from  the  farms,  the 
forests,  or  the  mines  can  be  brought  by  vessels 
from  the  far  western  shore  of  Lake  Superior 
or  of  Lake  Michigan,  many   hundreds  of 
miles  distant,  all  the  way  by  water  to  Buffalo, 
thence    by   this   long    canal    to   the    Hudson 
River,  and  down  this   river  to   the   wharves 
of  New  York  City,  from  which  it  can  reach 
all  the    navigable    waters   in    the   world.     This 
water-carriage   is   the   cheapest   of  all.      There 
are  no  rails  to  be  paid  for  or  to  put  down,  but 
any  man  can  move  about  wherever  he  chooses, 
up  and   down  the  navigable  rivers,  or  to  and 
fro  for   thousands   of   miles  "  over   the    broad 
bosom  of  the  ocean." 

4.  Look  at  the  map,  and   you  will  see  that  a   sailing 


126        Canal-locks — How  Constructed. 

voyage  from  Lake  Superior  or  Lake  Michigan  includes 
Lake  Huron  and  Lake  Erie. 

5.  The  only  difficulty  about  some  canals  is 
that  they  will  freeze  up  in  winter.     Then  the 
railroads  get  the  better  of  them,  and  carry  large 
quantities    of  goods  during    the   long   winter 
months. 

6.  This  large  canal,  however,  which  is  called 
the  Erie  Canal,  is  only  about  half  as  long  as 
one  in  China,  which  runs  from  the  great  city 
of  Pekin  to  the  great  river  Yangtse  Kiang. 
There  are  said  to  be  about  four  hundred  canals 
in  China. 

7.  These  are  used  not  only  as  water  highways  to  float 
goods  or  produce  from  place  to  place,  but  also  for  irriga- 
tion— that  is,  to  water  the  fields,  so  that  the  plants  may 
grow  better,  and  thus  yield  a  more  abundant  crop. 

8.  In  Egypt,  where  it  very  seldom  rains,  the  land  is 
watered  in  this  way  by  water  from  the  Nile  River. 

9.  In  canals  they  have  a  curious  way  of  mak- 
ing boats  climb  up  hill ;   for  canals  must  some- 
times be  made  on  ground  that  is  high  in  one 
part  and  low  in  another.     Where  a  high  and  a 
low   level   meet,  as   shown   in  the  blackboard 
drawing,  it  is  necessary  to  build  what  is  called  a 
lock,  perhaps  because  it  locks  the  parts  together. 
This  is  a  shaft  or   well-hole  of  stone,  carefully 
laid   in    cement    so   as  to   be   water-tight,  ex- 
tending down  from  the  upper  to  the  lower  level 


Canal-locks — How  Used.  I27 

of  the  canal  with  a  gate  on  one  side,  at  the  bot- 
tom, opening  into  the  lower  level,  and  another 
on  the  opposite  side,  at  the  top,  opening  into 
the  upper  level.  These  gates  or  doors  can  be 
shut  so  as  to  be  water-tight. 


Canal.  A  boat  at  low  level  about  to  enter  a  lock  so  as  to  reach 
the  upper  level.  Lower  gate,  A,  opens  to  admit  boat;  upper 
grate,  B,  closed. 

io.  When  a  boat  is  to  go  up  hill,  the  door  at 
the  top  being  closed,  the  one  at  the  bottom  is 
opened,  and  the  boat  floats  through  into  the 
lock. 


Boat  in  canal-lock,  lower  grate,  A,  about  to  be  closed.    Water 
to  be  let  into  lock  from  upper  canal  until  the  lock  is  fall. 

ii.  That  door  is  then  closed  and  the  upper 
one,  or  a  valve  in  it,  is  gradually  opened,  letting 


128  How  Canal-boats  are  Raised. 

the  water  run  down  into  the  lock  until  the  water 
in  the  lock  is  on  a  level  with  that  in  the  upper 
canal.  The  upper  door  or  gate  is  then  opened, 
and  the  boat  floats  out  upon  the  upper  level. 


••All—  — . 


Upper  grate,,  B,  is  opened,  and  the  boat  enters  upper  canal. 

1 2.  Where  a  canal  passes  through  land  which 
is  hilly  or  sloping,  there  are  sometimes  so  many 
locks  as  to  resemble  a  flight  of  stairs,  as  shown 
on  the  chart,  in  the  middle-ground. 

1 3.  Canal-boats  going  from  Albany  to  Buf- 
falo on  the  Erie  Canal  must  ascend,  as  shown 
in  the  drawing  above ;   so  also  on  the  Wei- 
land    Canal,    from    Lake   Ontario  to    Lake 
Erie ;  and  on  the  Canal  by  which  steamboats 
on  their  way  from  Montreal  to  Lake  On- 
tario avoid  the  rapids  in  the  St.  Lawrence 
River. 

14.  Wellanct  Canal  is  the  only  route  by  which  boats 
can  sail  between  Lakes  Erie  and  Ontario,  because  the  falls 
(160  feet  high)  in  Niagara  River  render  navigation  be- 
tween these  two  lakes  impossible  by  way  of  that  river. 


How  Canal-boats  are  Lowered.        129 


Boat  descending  and  about  to  enter  the  lock. 

15.  When  a  boat  is  to  go  from  a  high  to  a 
low  level,  the   order  of  opening  and  closing 
the  gates  is  simply  reversed. 

1 6.  When  the  boat  reaches  the  upper,  closed  gates,  the 
lower  gates  are  closed ;  then  the  water  is  let  into  the  lock 
until  it  is  full.     The  upper  gates  are  then  swung  open 
against  the  sides  of  the  canal  and  the  boat  enters  the  lock. 


Boat  in  lock,  and  about  to  descend  to  the  lower  level. 

17.  It  is  now  easy  to  see  that  by  letting  the  water 
out  of  the  lock  and  by  opening  the  lower  gates,  the  upper 
gates  remaining  closed,  the  boat  settles  down  with  the 
water  and  passes  out  on  the  lower  level. 


130  The  Brave  Boy ;  or, 

XXXVI.    THE   LEAK   IN   THE    DIKE 

A  STORY  OF  A  BRAVE  BOY  IN  HOLLAND. 

HE  good  dame  looked  from  her  cottage 

At  the  close  of  the  pleasant  day, 
And  cheerily  called  to  her  little  son 
Outside  the  door  at  play  : 
"  Come,  Peter,  come  !  I  want  you  to  go, 

While  there  is  light  to  see, 
To  the  hut  of  the  blind  old  man  who  lives 

Across  the  dike,  for  me ; 
And  take  these  cakes  I  made  for  him, 

They  are  hot  and  smoking  yet ; 
You  have  time  enough  to  go  and  come 
Before  the  sun  is  set." 

Then  the  good- wife  turned  to  her  labor, 

Humming  a  simple  song, 
And  thought  of  her  husband,  working  hard 

At  the  sluices  all  day  long ; 
And  set  the  turf  a-blazing, 

And  brought  the  coarse  black  bread ; 
That  he  might  find  a  fire  at  night, 

And  find  the  table  spread. 

And  Peter  left  the  brother, 

With  whom  all  day  he'd  played, 

And  the  sister  who  had  watched  their  sports 
Jn  the  willow's  tender  shacje; 


The  Leak  in  the  Dike.  131 

And  told  them  they'd  see  him  back  before 

They  saw  a  star  in  sight, 
Though  he  wouldn't  be  afraid  to  go 

In  the  very  darkest  night ! 

For  he  was  a  brave,  bright  fellow, 

With  eye  and  conscience  clear ; 
He  could  do  whatever  a  boy  might  do, 

And  he  had  not  learned  to  fear. 
Why,  he  wouldn't  have  robbed  a  bird's  nests 

Nor  brought  a  stork  to  harm, 
Though  never  a  law  in  Holland 

Had  stood  to  stay  his  arm  ! 

And  now,  with  his  face  all  glowing, 

And  eyes  as  bright  as  the  day 
With  the  thoughts  of  his  pleasant  errand, 

He  trudged  along  the  way ; 
And  soon  his  joyous  prattle 

Made  glad  a  lonesome  place — 
Alas !  if  only  the  blind  old  man 

Could  have  seen  that  happy  face — 
Yet  he  somehow  caught  the  brightness 

Which  his  voice  and  presence  lent ; 
And  he  felt  the  sunshine  come  and  go 

As  Peter  came  and  went. 

And  now,  as  the  day  was  sinking, 

And  the  winds  began  to  rise, 
The  mother  looked  from  her  door  again, 

Shading  her  anxious  eyes ; 


132  The  Brave  Boy ;  or, 

And  saw  the  shadows  deepen, 

And  birds  to  their  homes  come  back, 
But  never  a  sign  of  Peter 

Along  the  level  track. 
But  she  said,  "  He  will  come  at  morning, 

So  I  need  not  fret  or  grieve — 
Though  it  isn't  like  my  boy  at  all 

To  stay  without  my  leave." 

But  where  was  the  child  delaying? 

On  the  homeward  way  was  he, 
And  across  the  dike  while  the  sun  was  up 

An  hour  above  the  sea. 
He  was  stopping  now  to  gather  flowers, 

Now  listening  to  the  sound, 
As  the  angry  waters  dashed  themselves 

Against  their  narrow  bound. 

"  Ah!  well  for  us,"   said  Peter, 

"  That  the  gates  are  good  and  strong, 
And  my  father  tends  them  carefully, 

Or  they  would  not  hold  you  long !  " 
"  You're  a  wicked  sea,"  said  Peter  ; 

"  I  know  why  you  fret  and  chafe  ; 
You  would  like  to  spoil  our  lands  and  homes 

But  our  sluices  keep  you  safe  !  " 

But  hark !     Through  the  noise  of  waters 
Comes  a  low,  clear,  trickling  sound ; 

And  the  child's  face  pales  with  terror, 
And  his  blossoms  drop  to  the  ground. 


The  Leak  in  the  Dike.  133 

He  is  up  the  bank  in  a  moment, 

And,  stealing  through  the  sand, 
He  sees  a  stream  not  yet  so  targe 

As  his  slender,  childish  hand. 
'Tis  a  leak  in  the  dike  !     He  is  but  a  boy, 

Unused  to  fearful  scenes ; 
But,  young  as  he  is,  he  has  learned  to  know 

The  dreadful  thing  that  means. 

A  leak  in  the  dike !     The  stoutest  heart 

Grows  faint  that  cry  to  hear, 
And  the  bravest  man  in  all  the  land 

Turns  white  with  mortal  fear. 
For  he  knows  the  smallest  leak  may  grow 

To  a  flood  in  a  single  night ; 
And  he  knows  the  strength  of  the  cruel  sea 

When  loosed  in  its  angry  might. 

And  the  boy  !     He  has  seen  the  danger, 

And,  shouting  a  wild  alarm, 
He  forces  back  the  weight  of  the  sea 

With  the  strength  of  his  single  arm ! 
He  listens  for  the  joyful  sound 

Of  a  footstep  passing  nigh  ; 
And  lays  his  ear  to  the  ground  to  catch 

The  answer  to  his  cry. 
And  he  hears  the  rough  winds  blowing, 

And  the  waters  rise  and  fall, 
But  never  an  answer  comes  to  him, 

Save  the  echo  of  his  call. 
He  sees  no  hope,  no  succor, 

His  feeble  voice  is  lost ; 


1 34  The  Brave  Boy  ;  or, 

Yet  what  shall  he  do  but  watch  and  wait. 
Though  he  perish  at  his  post. 

So,  faintly  calling  and  crying 

Till  the  sun  is  under  the  sea, 
Crying  and  moaning  till  the  stars 

Come  out  for  company; 
He  thinks  of  his  brother  and  sister, 

Asleep  in  their  safe,  warm  bed ; 
He  thinks  of  his  father  and  mother, 
Of  himself  as  dying — and  dead  ; 
And  of  how,  when  the  night  is  over, 

They  must  come  and  find  him  at  last ; 
But  he  never  thinks  he  can  leave  the  place 

Where  duty  holds  him  fast. 

The  good  dame  in  the  cottage 

Is  up  and  astir  with  the  light, 
For  the  thought  of  her  little  Peter 

Has  been  with  her  all  night. 
And  now  she  watches  the  pathway, 

As  yester-eve  she  had  done  ; 
But  what  does  she  see  so  strange  and  black 

Against  the  rising  sun? 
Her  neighbors  are  bearing  between  them 

Something  straight  to  her  door ; 
Her  child  is  coming  home,  but  not 

As  he  ever  came  before. 

"  He  is  dead  !  "  she  cries  ;  "  my  darling! 

And  the  startled  father  hears, 
And  comes  and  looks  the  way  she  looks 

And  fears  the  thing  she  fears: 


The  Leak  in  the  Dike.  135 

Till  a  glad  shout  from  the  bearers 

Thrills  the  stricken  man  and  wife — 
"  Give  thanks,  for  your  son  has  saved  our  land, 

And  God  has  saved  his  life  !  " 
So,  there  in  the  morning  sunshine 

They  knelt  about  the  boy ; 
And  every  head  was  bared  and  bent 

In  tearful,  reverent  joy. 

'Tis  many  a  year  since  then  ;  but  still, 

When  the  sea  roars  like  a  flood, 
Their  boys  are  taught  what  a  boy  can  do 

Who  is  brave  and  true  and  good. 

For  every  man  in  that  country 

Takes  his  son  by  the  hand, 
And  tells  him  of  little  Peter, 

Whose  courage  saved  the  land. 

They  have  many  a  valiant  hero 
Remembered  through  the  years  ; 

But  never  one  whose  name  so  oft 
Is  named  with  loving  tears. 

And  his  deed  shall  be  sung  by  the  cradle, 
And  told  the  child  on  the  knee, 

So  long  as  the  dikes  of  Holland 

Divide  the  land  from  the  sea. 

GARY. 

PHCEBE  GARY,  an  American  poetess,  born  in  Ohio  in  1826. 
She  and  her  older  sister  Alice  were  both  talented  and  successful 
writers  of  prose  and  poetry,  and  constant  contributors  to  tho 
leading  literary  periodicals  of  this  country. 


136        Aqueducts — How  Constructed. 


Aqueduct  supplying:  city  with  water  from  lake.  Dotted  line 
snows  the  level  of  the  lake's  surface,  and  the  height  to  which 
its  water  may  rise  in  the  aqueduct  and  pipes. 


XXXVII.    AQUEDUCTS  AND   BRIDGES. 

1.  On  this  part  of  the  chart  you  see  a  reser- 
voir (pointing  to  it).     It  receives  fresh    water 
from  the  lake  beyond  and  above  it,  and  supplies 
the  city  by  means  of  an  aqueduct,  as  shown  in 
the  blackboard  drawings. 

2.  An  aqueduct  is  a  long  pipe  for  conducting 
water.     It  is  made  of  lead  or  iron  or  earthen- 
ware, or  sometimes  it  is  a  large  tube  of  mason- 
work  covered  over  smoothly  with  cement  so  as 
to  be  water-tight 

3.  Near  the  reservoir  is  a  tower  or  stand-pipe, 
into  which  water  is  pumped  high   enough  to 
supply  buildings  which  are  higher  than  the  re- 
servoir. 

4.  A  tube  or  pipe  can  conduct  water  down- 
wards, then  upwards  as  high  as  its  source,  but 
no  higher,  on  the  principle  that  "  water  always 
seeks  a  level." 


Aqueduct  Under  Lake  Michigan.      137 


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138 


How  Bridges  are  Built. 


Suspension  Bridge  over  East   River  between  New  York  and 
Brooklyn.    New  York  is  west  of  the  East  River. 

1 1.   BRIDGES. 

Suspension  Bridge  is  made  by  building 
two  tall  piers  and  stretching  over  them 
large  wire  ropes  or  cables. 

2.  To  these   cables   are    fastened    iron    rods 
which    hold    the  floor  on  which   people  walk, 
wagons  and  trains  of  cars  pass. 

3.  The  oldest  suspension  bridges  are  in  China. 
The   Indians   in    South    America   make  them 
of   bark    ropes,  and    sometimes,   instead   of   a 
floor  for  the  traveler  to  walk  on,  there  is  a  bas- 


Suspension  Bridges.  139 

ket  into  which  he  is  put,  and  in  which  he  is 
pulled  over  from  one  side  of  a  river  to  the 
other. 

4.  One  of  the  finest  suspension  bridges  in  the  world  is 
at  Niagara.     It  has  a  span  of  over  800  feet,  and  is  nearly 
250  feet  above  the  Niagara  River.     This  bridge  is  so 
strong  that  ordinary  trains  pass  over  it. 

5.  Another  at  Cincinnati,  over  the  Ohio  River,  is 
more  than   2,200   feet   in   length.      Its  height  above  the 
water  is  about  100  feet. 

6.  The  largest  suspension  bridge,  most  probably,  in  the 
world  is  that  between  New  York  and  Brooklyn  over 
the  East    River.     It   is    3,475   feet   long    between  the 
anchorages,  with  a  clear  span  over  the  river  of  1,595  feet. 
The  bottom  of  it  is  135  feet  above  the  water. 

7.  Light  suspension    bridges  are  sometimes 
broken  by  too  much  vibration.     This  happened 
to  a  small  bridge    over   the  river    Loire,  in 
France,  at  a  place  called  Angers. 

8.  A  lieutenant  in  command  of  a  party  of  soldiers  march- 
ed them  in  the  usual  way,  without  causing  them  to  break 
step.     As  their  regular  tramp,  tramp  was  felt  by  the  bridge, 
it  began  to  swing,  and  went  on  swinging  more  and  more, 
until  it  finally  broke  from  its  fastenings  and  precipitated 
those  on   it   into  the  river,  where  several  of  them  were 
killed. 

9.  Suspension  bridges  are  so  called  because 
the  floor  or  roadway  is  hung  or  suspended  from 
the  curved  cables.     Other  bridges  are  built  of 
stone,  iron,  wood,  or  brick  ;   their  roadways  are 
usually  over  or  alongside  of  the  arches. 


140  The  St.  Louis  Bridge. 

10.  A  most  remarkable  bridge  (not  suspen- 
sion) is  that  which  crosses  the  Mississippi 
River  at  the  great  city  of  St.  Louis.  This 
bridge  is  chiefly  of  steel,  its  three  immense 
arches  resting  on  four  stone  piers.  Each  span 
is  over  500  feet  in  extent.  There  are  two  road- 
ways, one  above  the  other. 


One  span  of  the  St.  Louis  Bridge.    Add  the  two  other  arches  or 
spans,  each  ten  inches  on  the  blackboard  and  similar  to  this. 

In  what  direction  does  the  Mississippi  River  flow  ? 
South.  In  what  State  does  it  rise  or  begin  ?  Minnesota. 
In  what  State  does  it  end  ?  Louisiana.  What  large 
rivers  flow  into  it  ?  Missouri,  Arkansas,  Red,  and  Ohio. 

ii.  When  you  look  at  the  foundations  of 
bridges,  lighthouses,  and  stone  piers  which  are 
under  water,  you  doubtless  wonder  how  the 
masons  built  them.  I  shall  now  tell  you.  One 
way  is  to  sink  or  drive  down  heavy  timbers  or 
piles  around  the  place  selected  for  the  founda- 
tion, fill  all  around  and  between  these  with 
stone,  clay,  and  cement,  and  pump  out  the  wa- 
ter from  the  enclosure ;  the  workmen  then  de- 
scend and  build  the  foundation. 


A  Diver  at  Work — Diving-bell.       141 


12.  Another  way  is   simply  for  the  work 
man  to  put  on  a  pecu- 
liar kind  of  a  suit  made 

of  India-rubber,  which 
completely  covers  him 
and  keeps  out  the  water. 
Glass  is  fixed  in  the 
helmet  for  him  to  see 
through.  Of  course,  he 
must  have  air  to  breathe ; 
that  is  supplied  by  a 
hose  or  tube  leading 
from  the  inside  of  his 
suit  or  covering  up  to  a 
boat,  where  other  men 
are  carefully  pumping 
air  to  him  through  the 
hose.  In  such  suits, 
men  go  under  the  water 
to  examine  and  repair 
ships,  recover  wrecks,  sunken  treasures,  etc. 

13.  The  diving-bell  is  another  means  by  which 
men  descend  and  work  in  the  water. 

14.  Its  principle  is  seen  in  pressing  any  vessel  like  a 
tumbler  into  the  water,  with  its  mouth  downward. 

15.  The  air  confined  in  the  tumbler  keeps  the  water  out 
and  displaces  it,  just  as  a  block  or  a  stone  would  do. 

1 6.  Fresh  air  is  pumped  into  the  diving-bell  as  shown 
above. 


A  Man  in  a  Diver's  Suit  or 
Armor  building  a  Founda- 
tion under  Water. 


142 


The  Natural  Bridge. 


XXXVIII.     THE    NATURAL    BRIDGE, 


THE  scene  opens  with  a 
view  of  the  great  Natural 
Bridge  in  Virginia.  There 
are  three  or  four  lads  stand- 
ing in  the  channel  below, 
looking  up  with  awe1  to  that 
vast  arch  of  unhewn  rocks, 
which  the  Almighty  bridged 
over  those  everlasting  abut- 
ments, "  when  the  morning 
stars  sang  together."  The 
little  piece  of  sky  spanning 


Awe,  aw,  not  art. 
The  Natural  Bridge  is  situated  115  miles  west  of  Richmond,  Virginia. 


The  Natural  Bridge.  143 

those  measureless  piers1  is  full  of  stars,  although  it 
is  mid-day.  It  is  almost  five  hundred  feet  from 
where  they  stand,  up  those  perpe'ndicular  bul'warks 
of  limestone  to  the  key  of  that  vast  arch,  which  ap- 
pears to  them  only  the  size  of  a  man's  hand.  The 
silence  of  death  is  rendered  more  impressive  by  the 
little  stream  that  falls  from  rock  to  rock  down  the 
channel.  The  sun  is  darkened,  and  the  boys  have 
uncovered  their  heads,  as  if  standing  in  the  presence- 
chamber  of  the  Majesty  of  the  whole  earth. 

2.  At  last  this  feeling  begins  to  wear  away ;  they 
look  around  them,  and   find  that  others  have  been 
there  before  them.    They  see  the  names  of  hundreds 
cut    in    the    limestone    abutments.     A   new  feeling 
comes  over  their  young  hearts,  and  their  knives  are 
in  their  hands  in  an  instant.     "  What  man  has  done, 
man  can  do,"  is  their  watchword,  while  they  draw 
themselves  up  and  carve  their  names  a  foot  above 
those  of  a  hundred  full-grown  men  who  have  been 
there  before  them. 

3.  They  are  all  satisfied  with  this  feat  of  physical2 
exertion  except  one,  whose  example  illustrates  per- 
fectly the  forgotten  truth,  that  there  is  "  no  royal 
road    to    learning."      This   ambitious  youth   sees  a 
name  just  above  his  reach — a  name  which  will  be 
green  in  the  memory  of  the  world  when  those  of 
Alexander,3  Caesar,  and  Bonaparte4  shall  have  rotted 
in  oblivion.5 


1  Piers,  peers.  3  Alexander,  Al-ex-an'der,  not  el, 

2  Physical,  fiz'e-kal.  4  Bonaparte,  bo-na-part. 

5  Oblivion,  ob-liv'e-on. 


144  The  Natural  Bridge. 

4.  It  was  the  name  of  WASHINGTON.     Before 
he  marched  with   Brad'dock  to  that  fatal  field,  he 
had  been  there  and  left  his  name,  a  foot  above  any 
of  his  pred-e-ces'sors.     It  was  a  glorious  thought  to 
write  his  name  side  by  side  with  that  great  "  Father 
of  his  country." 

5.  He  grasps  his  knife  with  a  firmer  hand,   and 
clinging  to  a  little  jutting  crag,  he  cuts  again  into  the 
limestone,  about  a  foot  above  where  he  stands ;  he 
then  reaches  up  and  cuts  another  for  his  hands. 

6.  'Tis  a  dangerous    adventure ;    but  as  he   puts 
his    feet    and    hands    into    those    gains,    and    draws 
himself  up  carefully  to  his  full  length,  he  finds  him- 
self a  foot  above  every  name    chronicled !   in  that 
mighty  wall. 

7.  While  his  companions  are  regarding  him  with 
concern  and  admiration,  he  cuts  his  name  in  wide 
capitals,  large  and  deep,  in  that  flinty  album.2     His 
knife  is  still  in  his  hand,  and  strength  in  his  sinews,3 
and  a  new  created  aspiration  in  his  heart. 

8.  Again  he  cuts   another  niche,4    and  again   he 
carves  his  name    in    larger   capitals.      This   is   not 
enough ;    heedless   of   the    entreaties    of    his    com- 
panions, he  cuts  and  climbs  again. 

9.  The   gradations   of  his    ascending   scale  grow 
wider  apart.     He  measures  his  length  at  every  gain 
he  cuts.    The  voices  of  his  friends  wax 5  weaker  and 
weaker,  till  their  words  are  finally  lost  on   his  ear. 
He  now  for  the  first  time  casts  a  look  beneath  him. 

1  Chronicled,  kron'e-kuld.  3  Sinews,  sin'uze. 

2  Album,  al'bum.  4  Niche,  nitsh. 

5  Wax,  grow. 


The  Natural  Bridge.  145 

10.  Had    that    glance    lasted    a    moment,    that 
moment  would  have  been  his  last.     He  clings  with 
a  convulsive  shudder  to  his  little-  niche  in  the  rock. 
An  awful  abyss x  awaits  his  almost  certain  fall.     He 
is  faint  with  severe  exertion  and  trembling  from  the 
sudden  view  of  the  dreadful  destruction  to  which  he 
is  exposed. 

11.  His  knife  is  worn  half-way  to  the  haft.     He 
can  hear  the  voices  but  not  the  words  of  his  terror- 
stricken  companions  below. 

12.  What  a  moment!     What  a  meagre2   chance 
to    escape    destruction  !     There  is  no  retracing  his 
steps.     It  is  impossible  to  put  his  hands  into  the 
same  niche   with  his    feet,    and    retain   his   slender 
hold  a  moment. 

13.  His   companions   instantly  perceive   his   new 
and  fearful   dilemma,3  and  await  his  fall  with  emo- 
tions that    freeze   their   young  blood.     He    is    too 
high  to  ask  for  his  father  and  mother,  his  brother 
and  sister,  to  come  and  witness  or  avert  his  destruc- 
tion.    But  one  of  his  companions    anticipates    his 
desire. 

14.  Swift  as  the  wind,  he  bounds  down  the  chan- 
nel, and  the  situation  of  the  fated  boy  is  told  upon 
his  father's  hearthstone.4    Minutes  of  almost  eternal 
length   roll    on,    and    there    are   hundreds    on    the 
bridge  above,  all  holding  their  breath,  and  waiting 
the  fearful  catastrophe. 

1  Abyss,  a-bis.'  3  Dilemma,  di-lem'ma, 

2  Meagre,  me'ghur.  4  Hearthstone,  hdrth-stone. 


146  The  Natural  Bridge. 

1 5.  The  poor  boy  hears  the  hum  of  new  and  numer- 
ous voices  both  above  and  below.     He  can  just  dis- 
tinguish the  tones  of  his  father,  who  is  shouting  with 
all  the  energy  of  despair — "  William  !  William  !  don't 
look  down  !     Your  mother,  and  Henry,  and  Harriet 
are  all  praying  for  you  !     Don't  look  down  !    Keep 
your  eyes  toward  the  top  !  " 

16.  The  boy  didn't  look  down.     His  eye  is  fixed 
like  a  flint  towards  Heaven,  and  his  young  heart  on 
Him   who  reigns1   there. 

17.  He  grasps  again  his  knife.     He  cuts  another 
niche,  and  another  foot  is  added  to  the  hundreds 
that  remove   him    from   the  reach  of  human    help 
below. 

1 8.  How   carefully    he    uses   his  wasting    blade! 
How  anxiously  he  selects  the  softest  places  in  that 
vast  pier!    How  he  avoids  every  flinty  grain!    How 
he  economizes2  his  physical  power,  resting  a  moment 
at  each  gain  he  cuts  !     How  every  motion  is  watched 
from  below  !    There  stand  his  father,  mother,  brother 
and  sister  on  the  very  spot  where,  if  he  fall,  he  will 
not  fall  alone. 

19.  The  sun  is  half  way  down  in  the  west.     The 
lad  has  made  fifty  additional  niches  in  that  mighty 
wall,  and  now  finds  himself  directly  under  the  middle 
of  that  vast  arch3  of   rock,  earth,    and   trees.     He 
must  cut  his  way  in  a   new  direction,  to  get  from 
this   over-hanging   mountain. 


Reigns,  ranes.  2  Economizes,  e-kon?  o-miz-ez. 

3  Arch,  artsh. 


The  Natural  Bridge.  147 

20.  The    inspiration    of  hope    is  in    his   bosom ; 
its   vi'tal    heat  is    fed    by  the   increasing  shouts  of 
hundreds   perched :    upon    cliffs",    rocks,    and    trees, 
and   of  others  who  stand  with   ropes  in  their  hands 
upon  the  bridge    above,   or  with  ladders  below. 

21.  Fifty  more  gains  must  be  cut  before  the  long- 
est rope  can  reach  him.     His  wasting  blade  strikes 
again  into  the   limestone.    The  boy  is    emerging2 
painfully,  foot  by  foot,  from  under  that   lofty  arch. 
Spliced 3  ropes  are  in  the  hands  of  those  who  are 
leaning  over  the  outer  edge    of  the   bridge.     Two 
minutes  more,  and  all  will  be  over. 

22.  The  blade  is  worn  to  the  last  half  inch.    The 
boy's  head  reels ;  his  eyes  are   starting  from  their 
sockets.     His  last  hope  is  dying  in  his  heart ;  his 
life  must  hang  upon  the  next  gain  he  cuts.     That 
niche  is  his  last. 

23.  At  the  last  flint  gash  he  makes,  his  knife — 
his  faithful  knife — falls  from  his  little  nerveless  hand, 
and  ringing  along  the  precipice,  falls  at  his  mother's 
feet.     An  involuntary  groan    of    despair   runs   like 
a   death-knell  through  the  channel   below,  and  all 
is  still  as  the  grave. 

24.  At  the  height  of  nearly  three  hundred  feet, 
this  fainting  boy  lifts  his  devoted  heart  and  closing 
eyes  to  commend  his  soul  to  GOD.      'Tis   but   « 
moment — there!     One  foot  swings  off!     He  is  reel 
ing,  trembling — toppling  over  into  eternity ! 


Perched,  purtshd.  *  Emerging,  e-merg'ing. 

3  Spliced,  spRsd. 


1 48  The  Natural  Bridge. 

25.  Hark! — a  shout  falls  on  his  ears  from  above! 
The  man  who  is  lying  with  half  his  length  over  the 
bridge,  has  caught  a  glimpse  of  the  boy's  head  and 
shoulders. 

26.  Quick  as  thought,  the  noosed  rope  is  within 
reach  of  the  sinking  youth.     No  one  breathes.    With 
a  faint  convulsive    effort,   the  swooning  boy  drops 
his  arm  into  the  noose. 

27.  Darkness  comes  over  him  and  with  the  words 
"  GOD !  "  and  "  Mother!  "  whispered  on  his  lips  just 
loud  enough  to  be  heard  in  heaven — the  tightening 
rope  lifts  him  out  of  his  last  shallow  niche. 

28.  Not  a  lip   moves  while  he  is  dangling  over 
that   fearful   abyss ;    but  when   a  sturdy   Virginian 
reaches  down  and  draws  up  the  lad,  and  holds  him 
up  in  his  arms  before  the  tearful,  breathless  multi- 
tude— such  shouting  !  and  such  leaping  and  weeping 
for  joy  never  greeted  a  human  being  so  recovered 
from  the  yawning  gulf  of  eternity. 

BURRITT. 

ELIHU  BURRITT,  the  son  of  a  shoemaker,  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools,  and  at  the  age  of  16  apprenticed  to  a  black- 
smith. In  the  intervals  of  labor  he  read  and  studied  much,  mas- 
tered several  languages,  and  became  author,  editor,  lecturer,  and 
United  States  Consul  at  Birmingham,  England.  He  was  known 
as  "The  Learned  Blacksmith."  He  was  born  in  Connecticut  in 
1811. 


Each  pupil  may  write  a  letter  or  composition  about  the 
Natural  Bridge,  and  describe  this  adventure  in  his  or  her 
own  language.  Do  not  copy  any  part.  On  what  occasion  did 
Washington  march  with  Braddock  ?  Who  was  Braddock  ? 
What  was  his  fate  ?  How  old  was  Washington  when  he  served 
under  Braddock  ?  Write  what  you  know  of  the  battle  in  which 
Braddock  was  killed. 


Balloons — Why   They  Rise.  149 


Excursion  in  a  Balloon. 

XXXIX.     BALLOONS. 

1.  Here  is  a  balloon.     The  first  balloons  were 
made  in  1783,  of  paper,  and  were  made  to  rise 
by    heated    air    coming    from    chopped    straw 
that  was  burned  in  a  wire  grating  below  them. 
This  heated  air,  being  lighter  than  the  common 
air  about  it,  makes  the  balloon  rise  up,  just  as  a 
cork  does  in  water.     (Afterwards  pure  hydrogen 
gas  was  used,  and  then  carburetted  hydrogen, 
which  is  what  we  burn  in  our  houses.) 

2.  The  first  man  who  ever  dared  to  go  up  in  a  balloon 
was  a   young  Frenchman   (named   De  Rozier),   who   was 
killed  two  years  after  (1785)  by  the  burning  of  his  balloon. 
Two  persons  crossed  the  Straits  of  Dover  in  a  balloon 
in  that  same  year.     The  first  woman  balloonist  (Madame 
Blanchard), after  several  ascensions,attempted  to  set  off  some 


150      Balloons — How  Moved  and  Used. 

fireworks  while  rising  up  from  a  garden  near  Paris  in  1796. 
Her  balloon  caught  fire,  and  she  was  dashed  to  pieces. 

3.  An   English    a'er-o-naut  or    balloonist    made    1,400 
ascensions,  crossing    the  English  Channel  three  times 
and  falling  into  it  twice.    In  the  highest  strata  of  air  reached 
by  balloons  men  suffer  severely  from  cold,  no  matter  how 
hot  the  day  may  be  on  the  ground  they  leave.   The  breath- 
ing becomes  difficult,  the  pulse  much  quickened,  and  the 
throat  parched.     The  highest  mountain  in  the  world  is  5^ 
miles  high,  but  in  1862  two  Englishmen  ascended  to  the 
height  of  37,000  feet,  or  7  miles.      Both,  however,  were 
nearly  killed  by  the  cold. 

4.  A  balloon  moves  about  very  easily  in  the 
air,  so  that  a  very  slight  change  of  weight  will 
affect  it  seriously. 

5.  Soon  after  the  invention  of  balloons  they 
were  used  in  war,  being  held  fast  by  a  long  rope, 
while  some  officers  looked  down  from  them  to 
see  what  was  going  on  in  the  enemy's  camp. 

6.  In  the  last  war  in  the  United  States  a  bal- 
loon corps  (kor)  was  organized,  and  news  was 
telegraphed  from  these   balloons   to  headquar- 
ters. 

7.  On  one  occasion  General  Fitz-John  Porter  was  observ- 
ing the  enemy's  lines  from  a  balloon,  when  the  rope  broke 
and  he  was  carried  rapidly  towards  the  enemy.     Pulling  the 
valve-string,  he  caused  an  escape  of  gas.     This  admitted 
enough  outside   or   heavier  air,   lowered  the  balloon   and 
brought   him  into  a  different  current  of  air,  which  fortu- 
nately took  him  back  to  where  he  started  from. 

8.  When  Paris  was  besieged  by  the  Germans  in  1870, 
fifty-four  balloons  were  sent  off  at  different  times  by  the 


Spelling  and  Writing  Exercise.       151 

Post-office  Department.  These  carried  millions  of  let- 
ters. Sixty- two  were  sent  off  in  all  during  the  siege,  most- 
ly at  night,  so  as  to  escape  the  observation  of  their  ene- 
mies, the  Germans. 

9.  In  spite  of  all  precautions,  several  fell  within  the  ene- 
my's lines.  One  was  fired  at  while  crossing  the  Prussian  out- 
posts.    Several  were  carried  outside  of  France.    One  was 
swept  into  Norway,  and  landed  600  miles  north  of  the  city 
of  Christiania.     Three  were  never  heard  of  after  they  set 
out,  and  were  most  probably  lost  in  the  Atlantic  Ocean. 

10.  Some  men  who  wished  to  get  out  of  the  besieged 
city  went  in  these  balloons  as  passengers.    Among  these  was 
a  member  of  the  Provisional  Government,  the  now  famous 
Gambetta,  who,  voyaging  safely  through  the  air,  arrived  at 
the  city  of  Tours,  where  he  joined  his  colleagues  in  the 
government.      

SPELLING    AND     WRITING     EXERCISE. 

4-^-2^, 


/  / 


Why  does  a  balloon  rise  in  the  air  ?  What  causes  it  to 
come  down  ?  What  about  the  temperature  of  the  air 
through  which  it  ascends  ? 


152  A  Trip  in  a  Balloon. 


XL.    A  TRIP  IN  A  BALLOON  ACROSS 
THE   ADRIATIC    SEA. 

|HERE  is  not  a  more  moving  story  than  that 
of  an  Italian  count  or  nobleman  who, 
during  an  aerial1  journey  on  October  the 

7th,    1804,    was    cast    away  on    the   waves    of  the 

Adriatic.2 

2.  He  with  two  companions  entered  the  balloon'  , 
they  rose  gently  at  first  and  hovered  over  the  town 
of  Bologna.3 

3.  The  count  says:  "  We  rose  higher  and  higher; 
it  became  very  cold.      It  was  now  two  o'clock.     The 
compass  had  been    broken,   and    was    useless;    the 
wax  light  in  the  lantern  would  not  burn  in  such  a 
rarefied 4  atmosphere. 

4.  "  We  descended  gently  across  a  thick  layer  of 
whitish  clouds,  and  when  we  had  got  below  them, 
we   heard  a  sound,    muffled    and  almost  inaudible, 
which  he  immediately  rec'ognized  as  the  breaking 
of  waves  in  the  distance. 

5.  "  Instantly  I  saw  this  new  and  fearful  danger. 
The  sound  of  the  waves,  tossing  with  wild  uproar, 
became  louder  and  louder,  and  I  suddenly  saw  the 
surface  of  the  sea  violently  agitated  just  below  us. 


1  Aerial,  a-e're-al.  3  Bologna,  bo-lone'yah. 

2  Adriatic,  ad-re-at'ik.  4  Rarefied,  rar'e-fied. 


A  Trip  in  a  Balloon.  153 

6.  "  I  immediately  seized  a  large  sack  of  sand,  but 
had  not  time  to  throw  it  over  before  we  were  all  in 
the  water,  gallery  and  all.     In  the  first  moment  of 
fright,  we  threw  into  the  sea  everything  that  would 
lighten  the  balloon — our  ballast,  all  our  instruments, 
a  portion  of  our  clothing,  our  money,  and  the  oars« 
As,  in  spite  of  all  this,  the  balloon  did  not  rise,  we 
threw  over  our  lamp  also. 

7.  "After  having  torn  and  cut  away  everything  that 
did  not  appear  to  us  to  be  of  indispensable  necessity, 
the  balloon,  thus  very  much  lightened,  rose  all  at 
once,  but  with  such  rapidity  and  to  such  a  prodigious 
elevation,  that  we   had    difficulty  in  hearing    each 
other,  even  when  shouting  at  the  top  of  our  voices. 

8.  "  I  was  very  ill ;  one  of  my  companions  was 
bleeding  at  the  nose ;   we  were  all  breathing  short 
and  hard,  and  felt  oppression  on  the  chest. 

9.  "After  having  been  at  an  immeasurable  eleva- 
tion for  half  an  hour,  the  balloon  slowly  began  to 
descend  and  at  last  we  fell  again  into  the  sea. 

10.  "The   night  was  very  dark,   the  sea   rolling 
heavily ;  it  must  have  been  in  the  middle  of  the 
Adriatic    that    we   fell.      Although    we    descended 
gently,  the  gallery  was  sunk,   and   we  were  often 
entirely  covered  with  water. 

II."  The  wind  pressed  against  the  half  empty  bal- 
loon as  against  a  sail,  so  that  by  means  of  it  we  were 
dragged  and  beaten  about  at  the  mercy  of  the  storm 
and  the  waves. 

1  Prodigious,  pro-did' jus- 


154  <d  Trip  in  a  Balloon. 

12.  "  At  daybreak  we  found  ourselves  four  miles 
from  the  shore.     We  were  comforting  ourselves  with 
the  prospect  of  a  safe  landing,  when  a  wind  from 
the  land  drove  us  with  violence  away  over  the  open 
sea, 

13.  "  It  was  now  full  day,  but  all  we  could  see  were 
the  sea,  the  sky,  and  the  death  that  threatened  us. 
Certainly  some  boats  happened  to  come  within  sight ; 
but  no  sooner  did  their  men  see  the  balloon  floating 
and  shining  upon  the  water  than  they  hurried  to  get 
away  from  it. 

14.  "  At  last,  one  man  better  informed  than  those 
we  had  seen  before,  recognized  our  machine  to  be  a 
balloon,  and  quickly  sent  his  long-boat  to  our  res'cue. 
The  sailors  threw  us  a  stout  cable  which  we  attached 
to  the  gallery,  and  by  means  of  which  they  res'cued 
us  when  fainting  from  exposure. 

15.  "The  balloon,  thus  lightened,  rose  in  the  air 
and,   in  spite  of  all  the  efforts  of  the  sailors  who 
wished  to  capture  it,  disappeared  for  ever  from  our 
view.     It  was  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning  when  we 
were  taken  on  board. 

1 6. '"The  brave  captain  of  the  vessel  did  every- 
thing in  his  power  to  restore  us.  All  were  very  sick  ; 
I  was  compelled  to  have  my  hands  amputated." 


If  you  were  above  in  a  balloon  and  wished  to  return  to  the  surface,  what 
would  you  do  ?  If  the  balloon  should  descend  too  rapidly  or  come  too  near 
high  trees,  what  would  you  do  to  make  it  rise  ?  Of  what  are  balloons  made  ? 

Ascending  to  great  heights,  extreme  cold  is  not  the  only  danger  met  with. 
Our  lungs  are  used  to  working  under  a  pressure  or  weight  of  air  of  15  pounds 
to  a  square  inch.  At  the  height  of  4  or  5  miles,  the  air  is  not  so  dense  as  it  is  at 
the  surface ;  and,  consequently,  breathing  and  the  circulation  of  the  blood  are 
seriously  disturbed  ;  the  blood  unpurified  becomes  dark,  and  unless  the  person 
descends  to  lower  and  denser  air  at  once,  he  dies  of  blood  poisoning. 


[to)l 


PJ3.R  T  II. 


Trees  and  Plants, 
Mining, 

Birds, 

Quadrupeds, 
Insects. 


156  Woods — Fr  u  its —  Vegetables. 


I.    TREES    AND    PLANTS. 

i.  Trees  and  other 
plants  are  very  useful  to 
us,  and  we  ought  to  be 
very  grateful  for  them. 
We  eat  them,  we  wear 
them,  we  walk  on  them, 
we  sit  on  them,  we  sleep 
on  them,  and  are  shel- 
tered by  them  all  day 
and  all  night.  Our  shirts 
and  collars  of  muslin  and 
of  linen  are  given  us 
by  the  cotton-plant  and 
the  flax.  We  sit  down 
on  chairs  of  oak  or  maple,  or  some  other  wood, 
which  rest  on  a  wooden  floor,  on  which  we 
walk.  For  our  dinner-table  the  potato-plant 
has  sent  us  its  roots,  or  rather  tubers  ;  the  wheat 
or  rye  gives  us  our  bread ;  the  tomato,  the 
carrot,  the  turnip,  the  squash,  the  egg-plant,  and 
a  host  of  others  all  help  to  supply  us  with  food, 
while  apples,  peaches,  pears,  grapes,  and  other 
delicious  fruits  are  held  out  to  us  by  many  trees, 
bushes,  and  vines. 

2.  If  we  wish  to  build  a  carriage,  omnibus, 
cart,  wagon,  car,  or  railroad,  the  oak,  the  ash,  the 


An  Apple-Tree. 


Bread-fruit — Rice — Coffee.  \  5  7 

maple,  the  chestnut,  the  pine,  and  other  trees 
supply  us  with  materials  for  them  all. 

3.  If  we  wish  to  go    across   the   ocean,  the 
trees  supply  us  with  materials  for  ships. 

4.  If  we  go  as  far  as  the  island  of  Ceylon, 
one  tree  there,  called  the  bread-fruit  tree,  will 
supply   us  with   bread,  which    hangs   in    small 
loaves  from  the  branches.     All  you  have  to  do 
is  to  take  it  and  bake  it  and  eat  it. 

5.  If  you  go  to  China  or  Japan,  you  will 
find  the  tea-plant,  that  gives  us  a  pleasant  drink, 
and  you  will  find  there  also  about  twenty  dif- 
ferent kinds  of  rice.     Besides  these  is  a  tallow- 
tree,  that  supplies  materials  for  candles. 

6.  The  tallow  of  which  our  candles  are  made   is   the 
suet  or  fat  of  such  animals  as  the  ox  and  sheep. 

7.  If  you   should  sail  to  Brazil,    Arabia, 
Abyssinia,  or  other  warm  countries,  or  to  the 
Island  of  Java,  you  would  see  fields  covered 
with  evergreen  plants  bearing  small  berries  which 
furnish  a  part  of  the  breakfast  for  many  millions 
of  people  every  day.     What  is  it  ?     Coffee. 

8.  Besides   the  places   mentioned,  coffee  grows  in  the 
West  Indies,  Central  America,  Venezuela,  Guiana, 
Peru,  Bolivia,  Ceylon,  and  some  of  the  islands  in  the 
Pacific  Ocean. 

9.  Although  the  coffee-plant  attains  the  height  of  8  to 
20  feet,  it  is  usually  kept  pruned  to  5  feet  in  height.     The 
plants  are  raised  from  seed  and  transplanted.     They  are  in 


1 5  $    C°ffee —  Cocoanuts — Palm-ozl — Sago. 

full  bearing  in  the  fifth  year  and  continue  to  bear  for  about 
twenty  years. 

10.  Coffee  is  named  from  a  re- 
gion south  of  Abyssinia,  named 
Kaffa. 

11.  The  best  coffee  is  the  Mo- 
cha, named  from  a  place  in  Ara- 
bia, and  the  Java.     Most  of  our 
coffee  comes  from   Brazil,  and 
much  of  it  is  marked  Java. 

12.  Maracaybo  (Mah-ra-ki1- 
bo\  which  has  given  its  name  to  one 
variety  of  coffee,  is  in  Venezuela. 

"  13.  In  Africa  and  Asia 
Branch  of  a  coffee-piant.  are  many  kinds  of  palm. 
These  supply  cocoanuts,  palm-sugar,  palm-wine, 
and  palm-oil.  The  latter  is  used  in  this  country 
to  make  soap,  and  perhaps  some  of  you  have 
washed  your  hands  with  this  very  palm-soap. 

14.  Some  of  you,  perhaps,  have  eaten  sago  "in 
pudding.     Sago  comes  from  a  kind  of  palm,  and 
a  very  wonderful  tree  it  is. 

15.  A  man  can  live  for  a  year  upon  one  of  these  trees. 
It  seems  rather  funny  for  a  man  to  eat  up  a  tree,  but  so  it  is. 

1 6.  Its  preparation  consists  in  cutting  off  the  branches 
and  also  the  hard  outside  part  of  the  trunk.     The  whole 
interior  of  the  tree  is  composed  of  a  highly  nutritious  sub- 
stance held   together  by  fibers.     This  is  roughly  grated  or 
pounded  into  a  pulp,  which  is  made  into  flat  cakes  and 
baked. 

17.  One  sago-tree  supplies  cakes  enough  to 
feed  one  man  for  a  whole  year. 


Palms — Soap —  Wax — Fans.  \  5  9 


Palm-Trees. 


18.  The 
cocoanut  - 
palm  not 
only  gives 
us  fruit, 
but  it  also 
yields  a 
kind  o  f 
o  i  1  from 
which  a 
soap  is 
made  that 
can  be 
used  with 
salt  water. 

Another  kind  yields  wax,  used 
in  making  candles ;  another  sup- 
plies millions  of  fans  that  are 
sold  in  this  country  for  a  few 
cents  each,  though  brought  all 
the  way  from  Asia;  another 
has  immense  leaves,  with  which 
roofs  of  houses  are  thatched  j 
and  another  gives  us  its  leaf- 
stalks to  make  coarse  brooms. 


19.  The  cocoanut-palm  grows  only  in  warm  countries, 
and  on  the  islands  of  the  Indian  Ocean  and  the  tropical 
parts  of  the  Pacific  Ocean. 

20.  It  grows  to  the  height  of  about  one  hundred  feet, 
lives  about  one  hundred  years,  and  bears  about  one  hun- 
dred cocoanuts  every  year. 

21.  Its  leaves,  which  are  only  at  the  top  of  the  trees, 
are  about  twenty  feet  in  length, 


1 60  Sugar-cane — Sugar-maple — Beet-root. 


Leaves:  Palm.  Sugar-Maple.          Chestnut.  Oak. 

Draw  on  blackboard  the  palm-leaf  2  feet  long:  (one-tenth  the 
full  length),  the  maple  5  inches,  and  each  of  the  others  7 
inches  (full  length). 

If  the  teacher  direct,  other  leaves  may  be  brought  to 
school  by  the  pupils,  who  will  call  the  names  of  the  leaves. 

22.  Another  palm   that   grows    in    Egypt 
gives  us  a  kind  of  gingerbread  all  ready  for  us 
to  eat.     It  is  called  the  Doum  palm. 

23.  Some  trees  in  South  America  and  Af- 
rica are  called  cow-trees,  because  they  give  a 
kind  of  milk. 

24.  Besides  the  trees  that  furnish  bread  and 
milk,  there  are  others  that  yield  a  substance  like 
butter.     Of  these  the  African  tree   seems  the 
best,  for  the  butter  from  it  is  sweet,  white,  and 
firm,  and  will  keep  for  a  year  without  salting. 

25.  Besides   bread,  milk,  and    butter,  plants 
yield  also  sugar.     This  we  have  from  the  sugar- 
cane, from  the  maple-tree,  and  from  the  beet- 
root.     Enough   is   made   from   this    latter   in 
France  to  supply  that  whole  country.     It  is 
just  as  clear  and  sweet  as  the   best   loaf-sugar 
manufactured  from  the  sugar-cane.     From  the 


Suga  r — Molasses — Syrup. 


161 


sorghum  we  get  a  sweet  syrup,  and  from  pota- 
toes and  other  vegetables  a  sweet  liquid  called 
glucose  is  obtained,  which  is  sometimes  used  to 
adulterate  sugars  and  syrups. 


Sug-ar-Cane. 

26.  Sugar-cane  is  raised  from  cuttings  planted   every 
two  or  three  years.     It  was  first  cultivated  in  Asia,  then 
in  Spain  in  the  ninth  century.     Soon  after  the  discovery 
of  America  it  was  introduced  into  Mexico,  the  West 
Indies,  and  Brazil. 

27.  Now  it  is  cultivated  in  Louisiana,  Texas,  Flo- 
rida, and  the  other  States  which  border  on  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico  ;  in  Brazil,  Guiana,  Venezuela,  Bolivia,  the 
West  Indies,  Mexico,  and  Central  America;     in 
China,  Japan,  and  Farther  India ;  in  Egypt,  Libe- 
ria, and  Zanguebar;  and  in  the  Sandwich  Islands, 
Society  Islands,  and  other  islands  which  have  a  warm 
climate. 


1 62  Poison-plants. 

28.  When  the  sugar-cane  is  cut  it  is  taken  to  the  mill, 
where  it  is  crushed  between  large  rollers.     The  juice  is  then 
heated  in  large  pans  or  boilers  ;   then  it  is  transferred  into 
coolers,  and  the  molasses  is  drained  off  from   the  sugar, 
which  is  of  a  dark  brown  color.     After  this  the  sugar  goes 
through    a   process  called  refining,   which  produces  loaf 
and  refined  sugars  and  syrup. 

29.  Maple  sugar  and  syrup  are  obtained  by  first  boil- 
ing and  then  cooling  the  sap  of  the  sugar-maple  tree.     A 
hole  is  bored  into  the  tree  and  a  tube  is  inserted,  through 
which  the  sap  trickles  out  and  falls  into  a  pail  or  other 
vessel. 

30.  The  plants  that  poison  us   are  very  cu- 
rious.    Some   men  are   dreadfully  poisoned  if 
they  merely  pass  near  some  of  them.      Other 
men    can    handle    these   same    plants   without 
being  at  all  affected   by  them.     There  is  one 
tree  in  the  West  Indies  from  which,  if  the 
rain  drips  upon  a  man's  skin,  huge  blotches  are 
raised  up  immediately.     Some  of  these  poison 
plants   kill    us   quietly,  sending    numbness   all 
through  our   bodies,   and    others  kill   us  with 
terrible  convulsions. 

31.  There  is  one  very  curious  plant  that  poi- 
sons us  or  nourishes  us,  according  to  the  part  we 
take.     It  is  called  the   manioc,  or  cassava.     It 
grows  usually  to  the  height  of  six  or  eight  feet. 
Its   roots  are  very  large,   sometimes  weighing 
thirty  pounds,  and  growing  from  three  to  eight 
in  a  cluster,  usually  from  a  foot  to  two  feet  long. 


Cassava —  Tapioca — Redwood.         163 

Like  the  other  parts  of  the  plant,  these  contain  an 
acrid,  milky  juice,  so  poisonous  as  to  cause  death 
in  a  few  minutes ;  but,  as  this  is  owing  to  the 
presence  of  a  poisonous  acid  which  is  quickly 
driven  out  by  heat,  the  juice,  thickened  by  boil- 
ing, forms  an  excellent  sauce  called  cassa-reep. 

32.  This  is   highly   esteemed  in    Guiana,  where  it  is 
used  to   flavor  almost  every  dish,  and  it  is  even  imported 
into  Great  Britain. 

33.  The   root,  grated  or  pounded  into  pulp, 
after  yielding  this  deadly  juice  by  pressure,  is 
dried,  and  forms  the  well-known  cassava-bread ; 
or  else,  heated  and   stirred  on  metal   plates,  it 
forms  the  well-known  tapioca,  which  is  sold  in 
our  stores,  and   served   up    in   our  restaurants 
and  in  our  families  as  tapioca  pudding,  which 
perhaps   some  in  this  class  have  eaten.     Thu? 
life  or  death  comes  to  us  from  this  plant,  ac- 
cording to  our  knowing  how  to  use  it. 

34.  In  the  size  of  plants  there  is  wonderful 
variety.     There  are  some  plants  so  small  that  we 
only  know  of  their  existence  by  their  changing 
the  color  of  the  rocks  and  stones  on  which  they 
grow.    To  see  their  stems  and  leaves  it  is  neces- 
sary to  use  the  microscope. 

35.  From    these     small     specimens,     plants 
vary  in  size  up   to   the   giant  trees  of  Cali- 
fornia, that  stand  90  or  100  feet  in  girth  and 
tower  up  to  the  height  of  300  or  400  feet 


1 64  Cork —  Quinine —  Cinnamon. 

36.  The  trunk  of  one  of  these  trees  when  lying  on  the 
ground  is  thirty  feet  high,  which  is  as  high  as  an  ordinary 
two-story  house. 

37.  One   man   had  the  stump  of    one  of   these   trees 
smoothed  off  and  built  a  house  on  it.     One  of  these  huge 
trees  became  rotten  at  the  heart  and  was  blown  down  in 
a  storm.      The  center  was  cut  away  so  that  a  horse  and 
wagon  could  be  driven  through  it.     They  are  called  the 
Redwood  trees. 

38.  The  bark  of  some  trees  is  used  to  cover 
houses  ;  that  of  the  cork-trees  of  Portugal  and 
Spain  gives  us  all  our  corks  ;  a  certain  tree  from 
Peru  gives  us,  in  its  bark,  the  fever-curing  me- 
dicines called  quinine  and  cinchona.     The  slip- 
pery elm  gives  also  a  medicinal   bark.     Cassia 
and  cinnamon  are  the  bark  of  certain  kinds  of 
laurel  that  grow  in  the   East   Indies.     The 
oak,  the  hemlock,  and  other  trees  enable  us,  by 
means  of  their  bark,  to  make  leather  out  of 
hides  by  a  process  called  tanning.     Boats  also 
are  made  of  bark ;  chiefly  birch  and  spruce. 

39.  There  are  some  plants  that  seem  offended 
if  you  touch  them,  and  close  up  their  leaves  im- 
mediately.     These  are   called  sensitive   plants. 
The  best  one  comes  from  Brazil.     There  is  a 
plant  of  this  kind  in  our  Southern  States,  but  it 
is  not  so  sensitive. 

40.  There  are  also  plants  that  give  us  soap  besides  the 
palm-soap  which  we  have  already  mentioned.     As  you  are 
walking  along  in  California  you  will  sometimes  see  what 
looks  like  an  old  paint-brush  sticking  up  out  of  the  ground 


Wheat  and  Corn — Where  Cultivated.  165 


If  you  should  dig  it  up 
you  could  wash  with  its 
root  as  with  a  piece  of 
soap.  There 
are  two  kinds 
of  soap-plant 
found  in 
South  Amer- 
ica. 


There 
is    also 
a  soap- 
,plant 
in  Eng- 
land, 
called 
soap- 
wort. 


41.  The 
plants  which 
furnish  us  with 
most  of  our 

food  are  wheat,  Indian  corn, 
rice,  and  potatoes. 

42.  This  country  sends 
immense  quantities  of  wheat 
and  corn  to  Europe  every 
year.  They  are  cultivated 
extensively  in  California 
and  the  States  which  touch 
the  Great  Lakes  and  the  Missouri  River. 

43.  The  States  which  are  celebrated  for  wheat 
and  corn  are  California,  Illinois,  Indiana, 
Ohio,  Pennsylvania,  New  York,  Michi- 
gan, Wisconsin,  Minnesota,  Iowa,  Mis- 
souri, Kansas,  and  Nebraska. 

44.  Countries  besides  ours  which  are  cele- 


Wheat. 


1 66 


Rice — -Corn. 


Cultivation  of  Rice. 

brated  for  wheat  are   Russia,  France,  and 
Austria. 

45.  Rice  is  used  for  food  more  than  any  other 
grain.    Millions  of  the  inhabitants  of  Asia  make 
it  their  chief  article  of  agriculture  and  food. 

46.  The   excellent   rice    for   which    South 
Carolina  is  celebrated  is  due  to  a  few  seeds 
left  there  by  a  vessel  from  Madagascar  over 
two  hundred  years  ago. 

47.  Rice  grows  also  in   other  warm   coun- 
tries.    A  wild  kind  of  rice  grows  in  the  swamps 
and  lakes  of  Minnesota. 

48.  Indian  corn  is,  next  to  rice,  the  most 
used.    It  originated  in  America  long  before  the 
discovery  by  Columbus. 

49.  The  potato  is  the  most  useful  and  the 
most  extensively  cultivated  of  all  vegetables.    It 


Potato —  7  *obacco —  Chocolate.  167 

is  a  native  of  South  America  and  it  still 
grows  wild  in  Peru  and  Chili ;  it  was  first 
taken  to  Spain  and  England  about  three  hun- 
dred years  ago. 

50.  Potatoes  are  more  extensively  cultivated 
in  New  York  than  in  any  other  state  ;  they  are 
largely  used  in  the  manufacture  of  starch. 

51.  There  is  another   plant 
which  is  also  very  extensively 
used  in  all  parts  of  the  world, 
and   which,    like    the    potato, 
was  first  found  and  cultivated 
by  the  natives  in  America,  be- 
fore the  discovery  of  America  ; 
it  is  tobacco.     Tobacco  grows 
best   in   warm  countries ;   the 
ancient  Mexicans  raised  large 
crops  of  it. 

52.  Now    it   is   extensively 
cultivated  in  Kentucky,  Vir-          Tobacco, 
ginia,   Pennsylvania,  Ohio,   Tennessee, 
N.  Carolina,  and  Maryland  ;  also  in  Cuba, 
China,  Japan,  Persia,  and  Southern  Europe. 

53.  Chocolate  is  prepared  from  the  seeds  of 
the  chocolate  or  cacao  tree,  which  grows  abun- 
dantly in  Central  and  South  America  and 
the  West  Indies. 

54.  Cacao  is  pronounced   ka-kay'o   or  kay'ko.      The 
cocoa  (ko'ko)  or  cocoanut-tree  is  entirely  different  (p,  101). 


1 68     Tea — How  and  Where  Cultivated. 


The  Preparation  of  Tea* 

55.  Tea   consists   of  the  leaves  of  the  tea- 
plant,  dried  first  in  the  sun,  then  in  heated  pans, 

and  rolled.  The  color 
depends  chiefly  upon 
the  age  of  the  leaves 
when  plucked,  and 
upon  their  preparation. 
Materials  for  coloring 
the  leaves  are  often  used. 

56.  The  plant,  which 
is  kept  pruned  down  to 
the  height  of  about  five 
feet,  grows  abundantly 
of  a  Tea-plant.        m  China  and  Japan. 


Grapes — Where  Cultivated.  169 


57.  It  is  cultivated  to  some  extent  in  the  mild  climates 
of  California  and  the  Gulf  States. 

58.  The  plants  or  shrubs  are  raised  from  seed,  and  are 
picked  from  the  third  to  the  tenth  year. 

59.  Grapes 
flourish  in  coun- 
tries which  have 
warm  or  moder- 
ately warm  cli- 
mates. 

60.  The  cen- 
tral and  south- 
ern   parts    of 
France  and 
Germany,  and 
nearly  all  parts 

of  Spain,  For-    I       --^^ ••'•*—  -&^^^.\ 

t  U  g  a  1  ,        and  A  Vineyard-Gathering  Grapes. 

Italy,  are  especially  noted  for  their  extensive 
vineyards,  and  for  the  great  quantities  of  wine 
made  from  the  grapes. 

6 1.  The   vines   are    mostly   kept    trimmed 
down,  and  not  allowed  to  grow  as  high  as  a 
man's  head. 

62.  Wines  have  received  their  names  from  the  places 
where  they  are  made  or  shipped  from,  or  where  the  grapes 
are  cultivated ;  as,  Champagne  and  Burgundy  wines,  from 
ancient  provinces  in  France  ;  Rhine  wines,  from  the  river 
Rhine ;  port  wine,  from  the  city  of  Oporto  (in  Portu- 


1 70  Vineyards — Grapes —  Wines. 

gal),  whence  it  is  shipped ;  Bordeaux  wine  (bor-do'\  from 
Bordeaux,  the  great  wine  port  of  France ;  Madeira  wine, 
from  the  Madeira  Islands,  northwest  of  Africa;  Sherry 
wine,  from  Jerez,  a  town  in  the  south  of  Spain  ;  Cali- 
fornia wines,  from  the  State  of  California. 


Taking  Grapes  to  the  Wine-press. 

63.  In  the  vintage  season,  or  when  the  grapes 
are  ripe,  men,  women,  and  children  go  into  the 
vineyards  and  pluck  off  the  bunches,  filling 
their  boxes  or  baskets,  which  are  emptied  into 
huge  tubs.  When  these  are  full,  they  are  hauled 
in  carts  by  oxen  to  the  press-house,  where  the 


Wine —  Grapes —  Currants.  1 7 1 

juice  is  pressed  out  and  left  to  ferment,  thus 
producing  wine. 

64.  Vineyards   cover   about  700,000  acres  of  land  in 
France,  and  the  value  of  the  wine  produced  there  some- 
times exceeds  that  of  the  whole  cotton  crop  of  the  United 
States,  which  is  about  $200,000,000  annually. 

65.  Considerable  wine  is  manufactured  in  the  States  of 
California,  Ohio,  New  York,  and  Missouri. 

66.  Wine  is  made  also  from  currants  and  berries. 

67.  New  vines  are  raised  from  cuttings  of  the  previous 
year's  wood. 

68.  Brandy  is  made  from  wine  by  distilling  it,  which  is 
done  by  evaporation  and  condensation.     (See  page  22.) 

69.  Grapes  contain  considerable  sugar  (about  a  fourth 
is  sugar),  which,  when  fermented,  produces  alcohol. 

70.  From  Spain  we  get  our  raisins,  which 
are  grapes  dried  and  prepared ;  and  you  will  be 
surprised  to  hear  that  the  currants  which  you 
have  eaten  in  cakes  and  puddings  are  not  the 
fruit  of  what  we  call  currant  bushes,  but  really 
a  very  small   kind   of  grape  which   grows  in 
Greece,  and  is  prepared  there  for  shipment  to 
the  United  States  and  other  countries. 

71.  Besides  grapes,  the  countries  of  Southern 
Europe   raise   grain  and  vegetables   in   abun- 
dance ;  even  between  the  rows  of  vines  you  may 
see  wheat,  or  corn,  or  beet,  or  other  plants 
growing.     There   are   also  great   orchards  or 
groves  of  mulberry  trees,  which  feed  the  silk- 


r  72  Oranges — Apples — Cotton. 

worm  ;  of  olive  trees,  from  the  fruit  of  which 
olive  or  sweet  oil  is  made ;  and  of  orange  and 
lemon  trees. 

72.  Orange  trees  require   a  warm   climate. 
They  are  killed  by  severe  frost.     In  the  United 
States  they  are  cultivated  in  Florida,  Louisi- 
ana,   Texas,   and  in  the  southern  part  of 
California. 

73.  Most  of  the  oranges  sold  in  the  United 
States  are  from  the  countries  bordering  on  the 
Mediterranean  Sea,  and  from  the  West 
Indies. 

74.  In   cooler  countries,   apple  trees    grow 
abundantly.     Introduced  into  America  by  the 
early  settlers  of  New  England,  the  apple  is 
more  extensively  used  in  this  country  than  any 
other  fruit.     Large  quantities  are  sent  to  the 
cider-mill,  pressed   between  rollers,  and   their 
juice  converted  into  cider. 

75.  Of  all  the  plants,  one  of  the  most  useful 
and  valuable  is  cotton.     It  grows  only  in  tem- 
perate and  warm   climates,   especially   in   our 
Southern   States.     Mississippi,  and   the   other 
States  which  border  on  the  Gulf  of  Mexico, 
yield  the  most. 

76.  It  grows  from  seeds,  and  bears  a  pod  or 
boll,  which  bursts  open  in  the  autumn  from  the 


Cotton — How  Prepared  and  Where  Sent.  1 73 

pressure  of  the  soft,  white,  downy  substance 
within,  called  cotton.  This  is  picked  out  of 
the  boll,  and  carried  to  a  cotton-gin  (Jin),  by 
which  it  is  separated  from  the  seeds.  It  is  then 
pressed  and  packed  in  bales,  and  sent  to  the 
cotton  mills  to  be  spun  into  thread,  then  woven 
into  muslin,  calico,  etc. 

77.  Large  quantities  are  sent  to  the  cotton 
mills  of  Massachusetts,  New  Hampshire,  Rhode 
Island,  and  other  States. 

78.  About  one-half  of  the  annual  crop  is  sent 
to  Europe,  principally  to  England,  where  it  is 
manufactured    into   cloth, 

then  shipped  to  China,  Ja- 
pan, South  America,  and 
other  places,  and  sold  or 
exchanged  for  tea,  silk, 
fancy  articles,  coffee,  India- 
rubber,  etc. 


Shipping  Cotton  from  New  Orleans. 


174 


Cotton;    Where  Cultivated. 


79.  Now, 
however,  the 
American  man- 
ufacturers are 
gaining  a  mar- 
ket for  their 
goods  in  each 
of  those  places. 

80.  The  Southern 
States     produce 
about    5,000,000 
bales    of    cotton 
every   year.    Here 
the    seeds    are 
planted  every  year, 
in  the  spring. 

81.  Cotton  is  cul- 
Picking  Cotton.-A  Cotton  Press.           tivated     also     in 

Egypt,  India,  China,  the 
West  Indies,  and  South 
America.  Here  it  grows 
also  on  shrubs  and  trees. 

82.  The    first    cotton 
mill  in  the  United  States 
was     built     in    Rhode 
Island. 

83.  The    city    which 
sends  away  the  greatest 
quantities  of  cotton  every 
year  is  New  Orleans, 
and  that  which  receives 

A  cotton  BOL  the  most  is  Liverpool. 


Flax — L  men — L  inseed.  175 

84.  Besides  cotton,  there  is 
another   plant  which  is   very 
useful   in   furnishing  us  with 
material  for  clothing.     What 
is  that?     Flax,  from   which 
linen  is  made. 

85.  Linen  is  a  kind  of  cloth 
made  from  a  material  obtained 
from    the    plant    called    flax. 
This  grows  to  the  height  of  two 
or  three  feet.     It  has  slender 
stalks,  which  are  covered  with 

a  bark  or  skin  containing  fibers  or  a  thread-like 
substance.  Flax  grows  from  seed  sown  in  the 
spring ;  it  is  pulled  out  by  the  roots  in  sum- 
mer, and  after  drying,  soaking,  scutching  or 
beating,  and  other  processes,  the  fibers  are 
separated  from  the  other  portions  of  the  bark, 
spun  into  thread,  and  woven  into  cloth  called 
linen,  cambric,  lawn,  tablecloths,  towels,  etc. 

86.  The  seeds  of  the  flax  are  called  linseed 
Like  those  of  the  cotton  plant,  they  yield  a 

useful  oil  and  a  substance  which  is  made  into 
food  for  cattle. 

87.  Linen  was  known  to  the  ancient  Egyptians  many 
hundred  years  ago,  who  exported  it  to  Greece  and  Rome. 

88.  Ireland  is  celebrated  for  its  fine  linen. 


1 76  India-rubber — How  obtained  and  used. 

89.  The  cultivation  of  flax  and  the  manufacture  of 
linen  are  carried  on  extensively,  also,  in  Great  Britain, 
Germany,  Holland,  France,  Belgium,  Russia,  and  several 
States  of  the  Union. 

90.  The   city   of   Belfast,   in   Ireland,  manufactures 
more  linen  goods  than  any  other  city  in  the  world. 

91.  You  have  learned  something  about  the 
two  plants  which  are  celebrated  for  furnishing 
materials  for  clothing — cotton  and  linen.   There 
is  another  plant,  or  rather  a  large  tree,  which 
yields  a  very  useful  substance  ;  not  fruit,  nor  its 
seeds,  nor  its  bark,  nor  its  roots,  but  its  sap. 
In  that  respect  it  resembles  the  sugar  maple 
tree,  but  we  cannot  eat  any  part  of  the  tree. 
We  wear  articles  made  from  it,  yet  it  cannot  be 
spun  or  woven  >ike  cotton  or  linen.     Do  you 
know  what  tree  it  is  ?      The  India-rubber  tree. 

92.  India-rubber,  or  Caoutchouc  (pronounced 
koo-chook'),  is  the  milky  sap  of.  that  tree.    Cuts 
or  gashes  are    made  in   the  bark,  into  which 
cups  are  inserted  for  collecting  the  sap.     This 
is  afterwards  hardened  by  heat,  the  smoke  giving 
it   a   dark   color.      It   is   further  hardened  by 
sulphur. 

93.  Boots,  shoes,  car-springs,  and  a  great  variety  of 
articles  are  made  of  it  in  Connecticut,  Massachu- 
setts, New  York,  and  New  Jersey. 

94.  The  India-rubber  brought  to  the  United  States  is 
mostly  from  Brazil  and  Central  America. 


Tu  rpen  tine — Pitch — Ivory.  1 7  7 

95.  There  is  another  tree  which  is  valuable 
for  its  sap,  called  turpentine.     This  is  obtained 
in  a  similar  manner;  when  distilled  (p.  171),  it 
yields  rosin  or  resin  and  the  oil  or  spirits  of 
turpentine,  both  of  which  are  used  in  the  man- 
ufacture  of  varnish,   and   for   other  purposes. 
What  is  the  name  of  the  tree,  and  where  does 
it  grow  ?     The  pine,  which  grows  extensively 
in  the  sandy  soil  of  North  Carolina  and  the 
neighboring  States.     It  grows   also  in  other 
parts  of  North  America  and  in  Europe. 

96.  Some  of  these  trees  are  cut  down  and 
their  roots  and  branches  piled  up,  covered  with 
turf  or  earth,  and  set  on  fire,  to  make  charcoal 
and  tar  ;  the  latter  is  the  sap,  which  runs  into  a 
large  iron  vessel  underneath  the  pile,  and  is 
conducted  by  pipes  into  casks  near  by.     This 
constitutes  an  important  occupation  in  North 
Carolina,  Canada,  and  Sweden. 

97.  Pitch,  which  is  very  useful  in  ship-building,  is  made 
from  tar. 

98.  What   is   ivory  ?     A    hard,   white  sub- 
stance which  forms  the  tusks  of  the  elephant. 
There  is  a  kind  of  tree  growing  along  some  of 
the   streams  in  the   northern   part  of    South 
America  which  is  called  the  vegetable-ivory 
tree;  its  seeds  or  nuts  contain  a  juice  which 
hardens  into  a  substance  resembling  ivory. 


1 78        Mahogany — Rosewood — Ebony. 

99.  Those   trees  which    yield    wood    used 
chiefly  in   the   manufacture  of  pianos,  boxes, 
furniture,  etc.,  are  the  mahogany  and  rosewood, 
which  come  from  Brazil,  Central  America, 
and  the  West  Indies.     Some  of  these  trees 
are  sawed  into  layers  about  one-eighth  of  an 
inch  in  thickness,  called  veneer,  which  is  used 
to  cover  over  cheaper  woods. 

100.  Several  thousand  dollars  have  been  paid 
for  the  logs  from  a  single  tree.     The  forests  on 
the  coast  of  Honduras  supply  large  quantities 
of  mahogany ;  but  the  best  sorts,  called  Spanish 
mahogany,  are  found  in  Cuba  and  St.  Do- 
mingo. 

101.  The  first  use  known  to  have  been  made  of  mahog- 
any was  about  300  years  ago,  by  Sir  Walter  Raleigh,  who 
repaired  his  ships  with  it,  at  Trinidad,  an  island  off  the 
coast  of  Venezuela. 

102.  Box-wood  is  a  hard,  smooth  wood  used  by  wood- 
engravers  ;  it  comes  from  countries  bordering  the  eastern 
part  of  the  Mediterranean  Sea. 

103.  Ebony  is  a  hard,  black  wood,  used  for  inlaid  and 
other  ornamental  work ;  the  tree  grows  in  Madagascar 
and  Ceylon. 

104.  The  date-palm  grows  abundantly  in  Persia,  Ara- 
bia, Asia  Minor,  Egypt,  Tunis,  Algeria,  Morocco, 

and  in  the  oases  of  Sahara,  or  the  Great  Desert.  Its 
fruit  forms  the  chief  article  of  food  in  many  parts  of 
these  countries.  An  oasis  is  a  fertile  spot  in  a  desert. 


Spices — Figs — Prunes — Cranberries.   1 79 


Banyan  Tree. 


105.  The  banyan 
tree  is  remarkable 
for  its  way  of 
spreading  itself. 
This  is  done  by  its 
branches,  which 
shoot  downward, 
take  root  in  the 

ground,  and  become  trunks.     It  is  a 

native  of  India. 

1 06.  The  trees  which  yield  cloves,  nutmegs,  mace,  ginger, 
cinnamon,  and  black  pepper,  grow  in  Java,  Sumatra, 
Ceylon,  the  Spice  and  other  islands  south  and  southeast 
of  Asia ;  some  of  them  grow  on  the  mainland  also. 

107.  Figs,   olives,   pomegranates,    and   almonds   grow 
abundantly  in  the  countries  which  surround  the  Mediter- 
ranean Sea.     The  dried  figs  used  in  the  United  States 
come  mostly  from  Turkey.     The  olive  tree,  whose  leaves 
are  small  and  of  a  light  green  color,  yields  fruit  from  which 
olive  oil  is  obtained. 

1 08.  Bananas,   pineapples,  guava,   and  tamarinds,  as 
well  as  oranges  and  lemons,  abound  in  the  West  Indies. 

109.  Prunes  are  plums  raised  and  prepared  in  France. 

no.  Cranberries  grow  on  a  little  running  shrub,  in  low, 
flat,  sandy  districts,  which  may,  like  rice-fields,  be  flooded  ; 
covering  for  a  while  the  whole  surface  with  water,  and 


i8o         Opium — Camphor — Rhubarb. 

making  the  meadows  appear  like  ponds.     They  are  exten- 
sively cultivated  in  the  eastern  part  of  New  Jersey. 

in.  We  have  before  mentioned  certain  plants  the  use 
of  which  is  injurious  to  health.  There  are  others.  In 
India,  along  the  Ganges  River,  thousands  and  thou- 
sands of  acres  of  land  are  devoted  to  the  cultivation  of  a 
plant,  on  account  of  the  juice  or  sap  taken  from  its  seed- 
vessels  ;  the  plant  is  called  the  white  poppy.  The  juice  is 
called  opium,  and  it  is  extensively  used  by  the  Chinese, 
who  both  smoke  it  and  eat  it  for  the  peculiar,  dreamy,  and 
quieting,  or  rather  deadening,  effect  which  it  produces  on 
the  feelings.  Its  use  is  very  injurious  to  both  body  and 
mind. 

112.  From    opium,   the    drugs   called   laudanum   and 
morphia  or  mor'phine  are  derived.    These  are  often  pre- 
scribed by  physicians  to  allay  pain  or  to  produce  sleep. 
The  opium  used  in  the  United  States  and  in  Europe  is 
mostly  imported  from  Turkey  in  Asia  and  Persia. 

113.  There  is  another  plant  which  yields  a  substance 
called  hasheesh  or  hashish ;  this  also  produces  stupor  and 
dreaminess,  and  is  extensively  used  in  Asiatic  countries. 
The  plant  is  hemp,  from  the  fibres  of  which,  rope,  bag- 
ging, etc.,  are  made ;  it  is  raised  chiefly  in  Russia. 

114.  Camphor  is  a  substance  obtained  from  the  wood 
and  bark  of  the  camphor  trees  of  China,  Japan,  For- 
mosa, Sumatra,  and  Borneo. 

115.  Rhubarb  is  the  root  of  a  plant  which  grows  in 
Central  Asia,  whence  it  is  sent  to  Turkey  and  Rus- 
sia, and  then  exported. 

1 1 6.  Castor  oil  is  obtained  from  the  seeds  of  the  castor- 
oil  plant,  which  grows  in  Africa,  America,  and  Europe. 


Sap  ;    how  obtained  and  supplied.      181 

1 1 7.  All  of  you  have  seen  an  apple  tree,  and 
know  the  various  forms  of  food  into  which  its 
fruit  can   be  made;  but  do  you  know  where 
and  how  the  tree  gets  the  food  which  it  lives 
upon  ?     Let  us  talk  about  this. 

1 1 8.  The  substances  which  supply  it  with  its 
food  or  nourishment  are  in  the  ground  and  the 
air. 

119.  The    principal    substances    are    called    carbon, 
hydrogen,  and  oxygen. 

120.  Many  thousands  of  little  mouths  in  the 
roots  are  ever  on  the  alert  for  these  substances, 
which   go   to   make   wood,   leaves,  and   fruit ; 
taking  them  in  with  the  water  in  the  soil,  and 
sending  sap  upward  to  every  branch,  twig,  and 
leaf. 

121.  The  leaves,  too,  are  at  work  all  day  long, 
breathing  in  through  their  countless  pores,  or 
mouths,  moisture  from   the   atmosphere,  and, 
with  the  aid  of  sunlight,  changing  and  prepar- 
ing the  sap.     Then  the  sap  returns  toward  the 
roots,  supplying  on  its  way  what  is  needed  for 
every  part  of  the  tree. 

122.  The  roots,  trunk,  and  branches,  contain 
multitudes   of  little   tubes   or  pipes,   through 
which  the  sap  flows ;  one  set  for  the  rising  sap, 
and  another  set  for  the  returning  sap.    The  sap 


1 82  Ages  of  trees — Exogens. 

is  to  a  tree  what  blood  is  to  an  animal,  and  both 
the  sap  and  blood  are  always  in  circulation. 

123.  Leaves  not  only  inhale  (breathe  in)  moisture,  but 
they  also   exhale   (breathe  out;  it.     Some  of  the  water 
which  has   brought  up   the  nourishment  to  the   leaves, 
being  no  longer  required,  is  thus  exhaled  or  evaporated 
through  the  pores  of  the  leaves. 

124.  Does  the  apple  tree  enlarge  on  the  in- 
side, or  outside  ;  by  the  rising,  or  the  returning 
sap?      The  increase  is  on  the  outside  of  the 
hard  wood,  or  just  along  the  inner  bark,  and 
is  supplied  by  the  returning  sap. 

125.  Every  year  a  layer  is  added;  therefore, 
when  such  a  tree  is  sawed  across  the  trunk,  the 

layers  will  appear  like 
rings  and  show  the  age 
of  the  tree. 


126.  In  counting  the  rings, 
the  pith  (i)  and  the  bark  (4), 
belonging  to  the  first  year's 
growth,   are   not    to    be  in- 
sertion of  an  Exogen  of  two     eluded. 

years'  growth.  ^  1-1,1 

127.  Trees  which  thus 

grow  by  additions  to  the  outside  of  the  hard 
wood,  or  externally,  are  called  exogens  (ex'-o- 
jens) ;  such   include  apple,  pear,  maple,  elm, 
and  many  other  kinds  of  trees. 

128.  Trees  and  plants  which  increase  by  inter- 
nal growth,  showing  no  layers  or  rings  like  thos£ 


Endogens — Seeds —  Cu  t  tings.          183 


above  named,  are  called  eri-do-gens,  such    as 
palm-trees,  Indian  corn, 
sugar-cane,      wheat, 
grasses,  etc. 

129.  The  newest  wood  of 
exogens   is    just    under   the 
bark,  while  that  of  endogens 
is  in  the  center. 

130.  Endogenous  trees  and          section  of  an  Endogen. 
plants  just  described  should 

not  be  mistaken  for  indigenous  (in-dif -e-nus\  which  means 
those  which  are  native  of  a  certain  country  or  climate. 


Exog-en. 


Endogen. 


131.  Trees  and  plants  are  multiplied  in  various 
ways :  by  seeds,  as  acorns,  grain  and  cotton-seed ; 
by  cuttings,  as  the  grape-vine,  sugar-cane,  and 


184          How   Vegetation  is  extended. 


geraniums ;  by  dividing  or  separating  roots, 
tubers,  and  bulbs,  as  the  strawberry,  potato, 
dahlia,  and  hyacinth ;  and  by  grafting. 

132.  Grafting  is  the  insertion  of  a  cutting  or  bud  of  one 
plant  into  a  branch  or  stem  of  another. 
This  is  often  done  with  rose  and  fruit 
trees. 

J33-  Vegetation  is  extended 
over  the  land  not  only  by  men, 
but  also  by  the  winds,  streams, 
ocean-currents,  birds,  bees,  etc. 


Seed  of  a  Maple  Tree,  Full  Size. 

1 34.  Many  seeds  are  provided 
with  a  kind  of  wing  or  some 
light  substance,  and  are  scat- 


seed  of  the  Thistle. 


fern,  with  Spores. 


tered  far  and  wide  by  the  winds, 
as  those  of  the  ash,  elm,  and 
maple  trees,  the  thistle  and  the 
dandelion. 


How  a  Maple  tree  grows.  185 

135.  Plants  are  divided  into  two  general  classes, 
flowering  and  flowerless.  Flowering  plants  and  trees 
produce  seeds,  each  containing  an  embryo  or  undevel- 
oped plant.  Flowerless  plants,  such  as  ferns,  have  spores 
instead  of  seeds.  These  appear  like  brown  dust  or  spots 
on  the  leaves.  Try  to  bring  a  fern  leaf  with  spores  on  it 
to  your  teacher. 


How  a  Maple  Tree  begins  to  grow. 

136.  The  origin  or  beginning  of  a  plant  is  a  seed,  which 
is  a  wonderful  combination  of  all  the  parts  of  that  plant. 

137.  Placed  in  the  ground,  the  seed  sends  down  its  roots 
to  find  food  or  nourishment  and  also  to  hold  the  plant 
firmly  in  its  place.     Then  the  stem  appears  above  ground. 
When    the   plant   is  grown   and   perfect,   it   consists    of 
these  five   parts :    root,  stem   or  trunk,   leaves,   flowers, 
and  fruit.     You  may  bring  some  specimens  of  seeds,  and 
be  prepared  to  mention  the  name  of  the  tree  or  plant  to 
which  each  belongs. 


186    How  an  Oak  grows  from  an  Acorn. 


138.  At  the  end  of  every  little  root  is  a  kind  of  mouth  ; 
and,  as  different  kinds  of  plants  require  different  kinds  of 
nourishment,  these  little  roots,  which  appear  like  bunches 
of  threads,  keep  Spreading  themselves  in  the  ground 
in  search  of  the  particular  substances  just  Suit- 
ed to  the  plant  which  it  is  their  duty  to  supply. 

139.  So  you   may   consider  the  roots   and 
their  mouths  to  be  the  storehouse  and  food- 
gatherers  ;  the  long,  narrow  pipes  in  the  stem 
or  trunk,  the  channels  or  means  of  convey- 
ance;    and    the    leaves    to    be    a    kind    of 
stomach   or    manufactory   for   preparing    the 
food   and   making  it   fit   for   use. 
That   is,    all    parts   of   a  tree   or 
plant  act  in   harmony   with   each 
other  for  some  good  purpose. 


140.  There  are  different 
kinds  of  roots :  ist,  those  of 
forest  trees,  which  extend  in 
various  directions  and  some- 
times to  greater  distances 
than  the  trunk  and  its 
branches ;  2d,  those  which 
appear  like  a  bunch  of 
threads  or  fibers,  and 
which  are  called  fibrous, 
as  those  of  the  hyacinth 
and  grasses ,  3d,  those 
associated  with  tubers, 
like  the  potato,  and  which  are  called  fleshy  roots ;  4th, 
those  which  taper  downward  and  send  out  fibers  from 
their  sides,  like  the  carrot  and  parsnip. 


How  an  Oak  begins  to  grow. 


How    Trees  differ  from  each  other.    187 


141.  Roots  are  divided  also  into  different 
kinds,  according  to  their  length  of  life ;  into 
annual,  or  those  which  live  but  one  year  ;  bi- 
en'ni-al,  those  which  live  but  two  years  ;  and 
per-en'ni-al,  those  which  live  several  years. 

142.  To  which  of  these  divisions  does  a 
morning-glory  belong  ?     A  rose  bush  ?     A 
pear  tree  ?      A   currant  bush  ?      A  fern  ? 
Beets  ?   A  cotton  plant  ?   Grasses  ?    Indian 
corn  ?     Carrots  ?     Butter-cups  ? 

Some  trees,  like  the  oak,  cedar,  pine  and 
olive,  live  for  centuries. 

143.  Trees   differ   also   in   their 
stems  or   trunks;    some  grow  up 
for    a    short     distance    from    the 

ground  and  then 
branch  out  in  every  direction, 
like  the  apple  tree ;  while 
others  grow  up  almost  in  a 
straight  line,  ten  times  as  high 
as  any  apple  tree  ;  such  are  the 
mammoth  trees  of  California, 
the  eucalyptus*  trees  of  Aus- 
tralia, and  the  cocoanut  trees 
of  Africa  and  Asia. 

The  trees  just  named  are  remark- 
able for  the  great  distance  between 
the  ground  and  their  lower  branches. 
The  cocoanut  and  other  palms  have 
all  their  leaves  at  the  top. 

How  Corn  grows.  *  [u-ka-lip'tus.] 


1 88  About  Leaves. 

144.  Trees  which  lose  their  leaves  in  autumn 
are  called  de-cid'u-ous,  which  means  falling  off. 
Those  which   retain  their  leaves  through  the 
winter,  or  until  new  leaves  appear,  are  called 
evergreen.     An  apple  tree  is  deciduous,  and  a 
hemlock  is  evergreen. 

145.  Leaves    differ   from    each    other   very 
greatly  in  their  size,  shape,  color,  and  construc- 
tion ;   some  have  smooth  edges,  while    others 
have  saw-like  edges ;  some  are  long  and  narrow, 
like  those  of  Indian  corn  and  the  sugar  cane, 
while  others  are  broad  and  round,  like  the  cab- 
bage  and  begonia      Leaves   differ  from  each 
other  also  in  regard  to  the  number  and  arrange- 
ment of  their  veins. 


Leaf  Veins.  Veinlets.  Veinulets. 

146.  VEINS. — The  first  leaf  above  shows  its 
stem  or  foot-stalk,  called  its  pet'-i-ole  (/*),  from 
which,  at  the  base  of  the  leaf,  spring  its  veins, 
five  in  number. 


Leaf  Veins  >    Veinlets,  etc.  i8q 

147.  VEINLETS.  —  The    next    shows    small 
branches  from  the  veins,  called  veinlets. 

148.  At  the  end  of  some  words,  let  signifies  small;  as 
leaf/*/,  a  small  leaf;   is/*/,   a   small   island;    stream/*/,   a 
small  stream ;  root/?/,  a  small  root ;  and  vein/*?/,  a  small 
vein. 

149.  VEINULETS,    NET-VEINED. — The    third 
shows  finer  branches  from  the  veinlets,  called 
veinulets.     Such  a  leaf  is  said  to  be  net-veined. 
With  few  exceptions,  the  leaves  of  exogens  are 
net-veined. 


Mid- Veined.       Parallel- Veined.     Fork  Veined.    Serrated. 

150.  MID-VEINED. — Leaves  having  but  one 
large  vein,  which  is  the  continuation  of  the 
petiole  (P\  and  runs  from  the  base  (K)  of  the 
leaf  to  the  apex   (a)  through  the  middle,  are 
called  mid-veined. 

151.  PARALLEL-VEINED. — The  veinlets  which 
branch  from  the  mid-vein  are  parallel  with  each 
other ;    the    leaves    are    therefore   said   to   be 


Leaves — Their  Shapes,  etc. 

parallel-veined.     The  leaves  of  most  endogens 
are  parallel-veined,  as  those  of  corn  and  lilies. 

152.  FORK-VEINED.  —  Leaves    whose    veins 
divide  and  resemble  forks  are  called  fork-veined. 

153.  SERRATE.  —  Leaves  .having   a   saw-like 
edge,  the  teeth  pointing  forwards,  are  called 
serrated.     Serra  means  saw. 

154.  A  FEATHER-VEINED  leaf  is  one  in  which 
its  veinlets  branch  off  from  the  mid-vein,  thus 
resembling  a  feather. 


Hand-Shaped.  Finger-Shaped.  Gashed. 

155.  A  HAND-SHAPED  leaf  is  so  called  from 
its  resemblance  to  the  palm  of  the  hand  and 
fingers. 

156.  A  FINGER-SHAPED  leaf  is  one    whose 
parts  or  divisions,  called  lobes,  are  more  sepa- 
rated from  each  other  than  those  of  the  hand- 
shaped  leaf,  and  appear  like  fingers  without  the 
palm  of  the  hand.     When  the  leaf  appears  as 
if  cut  with  scissors,  it  is  said  to  be  GASHED. 


Leaves — Simple  and  Compound.       19! 


Shield-Formed.  Compound  and  Trifoliate. 

157.  A  SHIELD-FORMED  leaf  is  one  which  has 
its  veins  radiating  from  the  petiole  at  or  near 
the  center  of  the  leaf  instead  of  its  base. 

158.  SIMPLE  LEAVES. — The  twelve  leaves  just  described 
are  called  simple  leaves,  because  only  one  leaf  is  attached 
to  each  petiole. 

159.  The  GASHED  LEAF  is  but  one  leaf,  cut  or  divided, 
and  is  therefore  a  simple  leaf ;  such  also  are  the  finger- 
shaped  and  hand-shaped  leaves. 

1 60.  COMPOUND  LEAVES — TRIFOLIATE. — When  a  petiole 
bears  two  or  more  distinct  pieces  or  blades,  the  blades  are 
called  leaflets,  and  the  group  is  called  a  compound  leaf. 
Three   leaflets  together,  or   near  together,  on  the  same 
petiole,  are  called  tri-fo'-li-ate  (tri,  three),  as  the  clover. 

161.  [The  pupils  may  collect  from  the  woods  or  gardens 
as  many  of  these  varieties  of  leaves  as  they  can;  then 
classify  them  and  name  their  different  parts ;  or  describe 
each  leaf  as  the  teacher  holds  it  up  ;  or  attach  one  or  more 
leaves  to  a  piece  of  paper,  write  a  short  description  of 
each,  similar  to  that  on  the  following  page,  and  hand  it  to 
the  teacher.] 


192  Exercises  in  Composition. 

[MODEL.] 


-CZ  't'Z       4 


40. 


•        •  /      •      / 

mt,<z.^tt.eme.<Z; 

•      /  / 

'etz.      •aM-cz 


162.  Besides  this,  the  pupils  may  write  about  any  tree 
or  plant,  as  a  lesson  in  spelling  and  composition. 

163.  Seeds    differ   very    greatly   from   each 
other.     Some  are  inside  of  the  fruit,  like  those 
of  the  apple  ;    some  are  on   the  outside,  like 
those  of  the  strawberry  ;    others  are  together, 
forming  the  fruit,  like  those  of  the  blackberry. 

164.  Some  seeds  furnish  us  with  flour,  from 
which  our  bread  is  made,  as  wheat ;   or  with 


About  Seeds. 


193 


Violet  Seed  in  Capsule. 


Wild  Strawberry  and  Seed. 


Acorns  (Seeds  of 
the  Oak). 


Cone  of  Hemlock  Tree.        Peas  in  Pod.    Cone  of  Pine  Tree. 

meal,  as  Indian  corn  ;   while  many  others  are 
not  used  for  food  in  any  form. 

165.  Some  seeds  are  enclosed  in  a  pod 
capsule,  or  case,  like  those  of  peas,  pansies 
violets,  and  lady-slippers ;  while  others  consist 
of  a  kernel  and  hard  shell,  like  the  hickory  nut 


1 94  The  Cultivated  Strawberry. 


Strawberry  Plants  are  multiplied,  also,  by  means  of  their  runners, 
which  readily  take  root  and  which  are  then  cut  or  separated  from  the 
parent  plant, 


The  Study  of  Botany. 


195 


Picking  Blackberries. 

1 66.  When  rambling  in  the  woods,  you  should  examine 
some  of  the  various  plants,  roots,  leaves,  flowers,  fruits 
and  seeds  which  you  see.  You  will  thus  be  easily  led  to 
the  study  of  that  delightful  science  called  BOTANY,  to 
which  your  attention  has  been  directed  in  this  chapter. 


Gathering  Wild  Flowers  and  Studying-  Bpjiany. 


1 96       Spelling  and  Writing  Exercise. 


II.    WRITTEN  REVIEW  OF  TREES  AND  PLANTS. 

To  be  written  on  slates  or  papers,  either  at  home  or  in  school, 
as  the  teacher  may  direct.  Write,  in  the  form  shown  below,  the 
names  of  the  principal  trees  and  plants  from  any  part  of  which, 
food,  drink,  clothing,  etc.,  may  be  obtained,  prepared,  or  manu- 
factured. 


NAMES  OF  TREES  AND   PLANTS.  WHERE   PRODUCED   OR  CULTIVATED. 

1  .......   .   ..............  I   .......       .............. 

2  ......................  2  ...................... 

3  ......................  3  ...................... 

4  ......................  4  ..................... 

5  ......................  5  ...................... 

6..  6  ...........  ....... 


I . . , I. 

2 2, 

3 3 

4        4 

5-"- 5 

6 6 


/ 
i i ... 

2     .  2.  . 


Also,  those  from  which  are  obtained 


The  Corn  Song. 


197 


' 

BREAKING  PRAIRIE 


III.     THE  CORN   SONG. 

EAP  high  the  farmer's  wintry  hoard ! 

Heap  high  the  golden  corn  ! 
No  richer  gift  has  autumn  poured 
From  out  her  lav'ish  horn  ! 


Through  vales  of  grass  and  meads  of  flowers, 
Our  ploughs  their  furrows  made, 

While  on  the  hills  the  sun  and  showers 
Of  changeful  April  played. 

We  dropped  the  seed  o'er  hill  and  plain, 

Beneath  the  sun  of  May, 
And  frightened  from  our  sprouting  grain 

The  robber  crows  away. 

All  through  the  long,  bright  days  of  June 

Its  leaves  grew  green  and  fair, 
And  waved  in  hot  midsummer's  noon 

Its  soft  and  yellow  hair. 


UNIVERSITY 


198 


The  Corn  Song. 


And  now,  with  autumn's  moonlit  eves, 

Its  harvest  time  has  come, 
We  pluck  away  the  frosted  leaves, 

And  bear  the  treasure  home. 

There,  richer  than  the  fabled  gift 

Apollo  showered  of  old, 
Fair  hands  the  broken  grain  shall  sift, 

And  knead  its  meal  of  gold. 

Let  vapid  idlers  loll  in  silk 

Around  their  costly  board ; 
Give  us  the  bowl  of  samp  and  milk, 

By  homespun  beauty  poured ! 


Where'er  the  wide  old  kitchenlhearth 

Sends  up  its  smoky  curls, 
Who  will  not  thank  the  kindly  earth, 

And  bless  our  farmer  girls ! 
.  ^_ >»— * 
Let  earth  withhold  her  goodly  root, 

Let  mildew  blight  the  rye, 
Give  to  the  worm  the  orchard's  fruit, 

The  wheatfield  to  the  fly : 
>*» 
But  let  the  good  old  crop  adorn 

The  hills  our  fathers  trod  , 
Still  let  us,  for  his  golden  corn, 

Send  up  our  thanks  to  God. 


The  Violet's  Complaint.  199 


IV.    THE    VIOLET'S  COMPLAINT. 

WONDER  what  I  was  created  for— I  am 
so  weak  and  small,"  thought  a  violet,  as 
it  shook  off  a  dew-drop  which  weighed  it 
to  the  ground.  "  Surrounded  by  these  leaves  which 
shut  me  in  from  the  world,  bowed  down  under  the 
weight  of  the  morning  dews,  I  must  spend  a  worth- 
less existence,  unknown  and  uncared  for.0 

2.  "  How    I    envy   yonder  oak !    how  proudly   it 
stands !  what  cares  it  for  the  winds,  or  storm.     Its 
branches  laugh  and  wrestle  in  the  breezes  that  cause 
me  to  bow  my  head  in  fear.     Even  the  cattle  love 
its  cooling  shade,  and  there  they  rest  from  the  burn- 
ing sun.     It  has  its  work  to  do,  while  I — but  hark ! 
I  heard  the  sound  of  thunder,  I  must  hide  my  head 
beneath  the  shelter  of  these  dark  green  leaves  until 
the  storm  of  wind  and  rain  is  past." 

3.  An  hour  passed ;    the  storm  was  over ;  again 
the  sun  looked   down  upon  the  earth,  refreshed  by 
cooling  rain.     Lifting  its  dripping  head,  the  violet 
gazed  in  wonder ;  the  oak,  unable  to  bend  to  the 
storm,  had  yielded  to  a  stronger  power,  and  now  lay 
shattered  and  prone  upon  the  ground. 

4.  "  My  weakness  has  been  my  safeguard,"  mur- 
mured the  violet,  in  a  subdued,  shamed  tone. 

5.  Just  then  a  voice  exclaimed  :  "  Dear  little  violet, 
just  what  I  have  been  looking  for ;  "  and  a  hand 
reached  down  and  plucked  it  from  its  home  among 
the  leaves,  and  carried  it   tenderly  to  a  sick  girl's 


2OO  The  Rain  and  the  Flowers. 

home.  "  See,  Emma,  I  have  brought  you  the  first 
violet  of  the  season  ;  it  was  the  only  one  that  I  could 
find.  Here,  let  me  put  it  into  this  little  vase  beside 
your  bed." 

6.  "  How  kind  you  were,  Ethel,  to  find  it  for  me. 
I  love  violets  so  much ; "  and  the  thin,  pale  hand 
reached  out  and  took  the  vase,  and  gazed  upon  the 
little  flower.     "  It  is  so  sweet,"  she  said,  "  it  seems 
to  bring  new  life  and  hope  to  me." 

7.  Once  more  the  violet  was  heard  to  murmur :  "  I 
was  mistaken  ;  I  have  a  work  to  do.     God  has  not 
created  anything  in  vain. 

N.  Y.  OBSERVER. 


V.     RAIN   AND    THE    FLOWERS. 

O  the  great  brown  house  where  the  flowerets 

live, 

Came  the  Rain  with  its  tap,  tap,  tap ! 
And  whispered  :  "  Violet,  Snowdrop,  Rose, 
Your  pretty  eyes  must  now  unclose 
From  your  long  wintry  nap  !  " 
Said  the  Rain  with  its  tap,  tap,  tap ! 

From  the  doors  they  peeped  with  a  timid  grace, 
Just  to  answer  this  tap,  tap,  tap! 

Miss  Snowdrop  curtseyed  a  sweet  "  Good-day !  " 
Then  all  came  nodding  their  heads  so  gay, 
And  they  said  :  "  We've  had  our  nap, 
Thank  you,  Rain,  for  your  tap,  tap,  tap !  " 


The  Death  of  the  Flowers.  201 


VI.    DEATH    OF  THE    FLOWERS. 

|HE  melancholy  days  are  come,  the  saddest 

of  the  year, 

Of  wailing  winds,  and    naked    woods,  and 
meadows  brown  and  sere. 
Heaped  in  the  hollows  of  the  grove,  the  autumn 

leaves  lie  dead ; 
They  rustle  to  the  eddying  gust,  and  to  the  rabbit's 

tread  ; 
The  robin  and  the  wren   are  flown,  and   from  the 

shrubs  the  jay, 

And  from  the  wood-top  calls  the  crow  through  all 
the  gloomy  day. 

Where  are  the  flowers,  the  fair  young  flowers,  that 
lately  sprang  and  stood 

In  brighter  light  and  softer  airs,  a  beauteous  sister- 
hood ? 

Alas !  they  are  all  in  their  graves,  the  gentle  race  of 
flowers 

Are  lying  in  their  lowly  beds,  with  the  fair  and  good 
of  ours. 

The  rain  is  falling  where  they  lie,  but  the  cold 
November  rain 

Calls  not  from  out  the  gloomy  earth  the  lovely  ones 
again. 

The  wind-flower  and  the  violet,  they  perished  long 

ago, 
And  the  brier-rose   and   the  orchis  died  amid  the 

summer  glow ; 


2O2  The  Death  of  the  Flowers. 

But  on  the  hills  the  golden-rod,  and  the  aster  in  the 

wood, 
And  the  yellow  sun-flower  by  the  brook  in  autumn 

beauty  stood, 
Till  fell  the  frost  from  the  clear  cold  heaven,  as  falls 

the  plague  on  men, 
And  the  brightness  of  their  smile  was  gone,   from 

upland,  glade,  and  glen. 


And  now,  when  comes  the  calm,  mild  day,  as  still 
such  days  will  come, 

To  call  the  squirrel  and  the  bee  from  out  their  win- 
ter home ; 

The  south  wind  searches  for  the  flowers  whose  fra- 
grance late  he  bore, 

And  sighs  to  find  them  in  the  wood  and  by  the 
stream  no  more. 


And  then  I  think  of  one  who  in  her  youthful  beauty 

died, 
The  fair  meek  blossom  who  grew  up  and  faded  by 

my  side. 
In  the  cold  moist  earth  we  laid  her,  when  the  forest 

cast  the  leaf, 
And  we  wept  that  one  so  lovely  should  have  a  life 

so  brief: 
Yet  not  unmeet  it  was   that   one,  like  that  young 

friend  of  ours, 
So  gentle  and  so  beautiful,  should  perish  with  the 

flowers. 

WILLIAM  CULLEN  BRYANT. 


The  Start  for  the  Woods.  203 


VII.     IN  THE  WOODS. 

[O'WARDS  August  or  September,  any  man 
who  has  once  been  in  the  woods  will  begin 
to  feel  stirring  within  him  a  restless  craving 
for  the  forest. 

2.  To  a  man  who  has  once  tasted  of  the  woods, 
the  instinct  to  return  thither  is  as  strong  as  that  of 
the  salmon  to  seek  the  sea.     Let  us,  then,  go  into 
the  woods.      We  have  arrived  at  the   last   house, 
where  Indians  and  canoes'  are  waiting  for  us.     Old 
John  Williams,  the  Indian,   beaming   with   smiles, 
shakes  hands,  and  says :  "  I  am  glad  to  see  you  back 
again1  in  the  woods  of  Canada.    How  have  you  been, 
sir?    Pretty  smart,  I  hope."     "Oh,  first-rate,  thank 
you,  John  ;  and  how  did  you  get  through  the  winter, 
and  how  is  the  farm  getting  on  ? "     "  Pretty  well, 
sir.     I  killed  a  fine  fat  moose  last  December,  that 
kept  me  in  meat  almost  all  winter ;  and  the  farm 
is  getting  on  splendidly.    I  was  just  cutting  my  oats 
when  I  got  your  telegram,  and  dropped  the  scythe 
right  there  in  the  swath,2  and  left." 

3.  The  first  day  is  not  pleasant.    The  canoes  have 
to  be  carted  ten  miles  to  the  head  of  the  stream  we 
propose  descending  and  the  hay-wagon  wants  mend- 
ing, or  the  oxen  have  gone  astray.     Patience  and 
perseverance,  however,  overcome  all  these  and  simi- 
lar difficulties,  and  at  last  we  arrive  at  the  margin 
of  a  ti'ny  stream. 

1  Again,  a-gen'.  2  Swath,  swawth. 


204  Canoes —  Tents — Supper. 

4.  Down  we  go,  very  slowly  and  carefully,  until 
the  water  deepens.     We  then  take  to  the  paddles 
and  make  rapid  progress. 

5.  After  a  mile  of  still  water  we  are  brought  up 
by  a  beaver-dam,  showing  an  almost  dry  river-bed 
below  it.     Canoes  are  drawn  up  and  the  dam  is  de- 
molished in  a  few  minutes,  giving  a  couple  of  nights' 
hard  labor  to  the  industrious  families  whose  houses 
we  had  passed  a  little  way  above  the  dam.    We  have, 
to  wait  for  half  an  hour  to  give  the  water  a  start  of 
us,  and  then  off  again,  poling,  wading,  and  paddling 
down   the  stream,   until  the   sinking  sun    indicates 
time  to  campt 

6.  In  a  few  minutes,  canoes  are  unladen,  two  tents 
pitched,  soft  beds  of  fir-tops  spread   evenly  within 
them,  wood  cut,  and  bright  fires  kindled  more  for 
cheerfulness  than  warmth.     A  box  of  hard  bread  is 
opened,  tea  made,  and  supper  is  ready, 

7.  Sunrise  finds  us  up ;    breakfast    is  soon    over, 
tents  are  struck,  canoes  loaded,  and  we  are  on  our 
way  down  the  deepening  stream.     It  is  a  river  now, 
with  plenty  of  trout  in  the  shallows,  and  salmon  in  the 
deep  pools.     About  noon  we  turn  sharp  off  to  the 
eastward  up  a  little  brawling  brook,  forcing  our  way 
with  some  difficulty  up  its  shallow  rapids  till  it  gets 
too  dry,  and  we  are  compelled  to  go  ashore  and  to 
"carry"  over  to  the  lake  whither  we  are  bound. 
One  of  us  stops  behind  to  make  a  fire,  boil  the  ket- 
tle, and  prepare  the  dinner,  while  each  Indian  swings 
a  canoe    on  his  shoulders  and  starts   through  the 
woods.     In  three  trips  everything  is  carried  across 
and  we  embark  upon  a  lovely  lake. 


A  Forest  in  Winter. 


205 


\ 


206       Difficulties  on  Land  and  Water. 

8.  The  "  carry "  was   not  long,  and  there  was  a 
good  blazed  trail,  so  that  it  was  a  comparatively  easy 
job ;   but  under   the  most   favorable  circumstances 
this  portaging,1  or  carrying,  is  very  hard  work.     It 
is  hard  enough  to  have  to  lift  eighty  or  one  hundred 
pounds  on  your  back.     It  is  worse  when  you  have 
to  carry  the   burden  half  a  mile,  and  get  back  as 
quickly  as  you  can  for  another  load ;  and  when  you 
have  to  crawl  under  fallen  limbs,  climb  over  pros- 
trate logs,  balance  yourself  on  slippery  tree-trunks, 
flounder    though   bogs,    get   tangled    up   in    alder 
swamps,  force  yourself  through  branches  which  slap 
you  viciously2  in  the  face,  with  a  big  load  on  your 
back,  a  hot  sun  overhead,  and  several  mosquitoes3 
on  your  nose,  it  is  almost  beyond  endurance.    But  it 
has  to  be  done,  and  the  best  way  is  to  take  it  coolly. 

9.  Out  on  the  lake  it  was  blowing  a  gale,  and  right 
against  us.     We  had  to  kneel  in  the  bottom  of  the 
canoes,  and  vigorously  ply  our  paddles.     The  heav- 
ily-laden craft  plunged  into  the  waves,  shipping  water 
at  every  jump,  and  sending  the  spray  flying  into  our 
faces.     Sometimes  we  would  make  good  way,  and 
then,  in  a  squall,4  we  would  not  gain  an  inch,  and  be 
almost  driven  on  shore;  but  after  much  labor  we 
gained  the  shelter  of  a  projecting  point,  and  late  in 
the  evening  reached  our  destination,  and  drew  up 
our  canoes  for  the  last  time. 

10.  The  Indian  carries  your  blanket,  your  coat,  a  lit- 
tle tea,  sugar,  and  bread,  a  kettle,  and  two  tin  pans. 


1  Portaging,  porfag-ing.  3  Mosquitos,  mus-k?tdz, 

9  Viciously,  vish'us-le.  4  Squall,  squawl. 


Moose  Hunting.  207 

The  hunter  has  enough  to  do  to  carry  himself,  his 
rifle,  ammunition,  a  small  axe,  hunting-knife,  and  a 
pair  of  field-glasses.  Thus  provided,  you  plunge 
into  the  woods,  the  sun  your  guide  in  clear  weather, 
your  pocket-compass  if  it  is  cloudy,  the  beasts  and 
birds  and  fishes  your  companions,  and  wander 
through  the  woods  at  will,  sleeping  where  the  fancy 
seizes  you,  "  calling  "  if  the  nights  are  calm,  or  still- 
hunting  on  a  windy  day.  Calling  is  the  most  fas- 
cinating, disappointing  and  exciting  of  all  sports. 

11.  Moose-calling  consists  in  imitating  the  cry  of 
the  animal  with  a  hollow  cone  made  of  birch  bark,  and 
endeavoring,  by  this  means,  to  call  up  a  moose  near 
enough  to  get  a  shot  at  him  by  moonlight  or  in  the 
early  morning.     He  will  come  straight  up  to  you, 
within  a  few  yards — walk  right  over  you  almost — 
answering,  ("  speaking,"  as  the  Indians  term  it,)  as 
he  comes  along,  if  nothing  happen  to  scare  him. 

12.  The  great  advantage  of  moose-calling  is,  that 
it  takes  one  out  in  the  woods  during  the  most  beau- 
tiful period  of  the  whole  year ;  when   nature,  tired 
with  the  labor  of  spring  and  summer,  puts  on  her 
holiday  garments,  and  rests  luxuriously  before  falling 
into  the  deep  sleep  of  winter.     The  great  heats  are 
past,  though  the  days  are  still  warm  and  sunny ;  the 
nights  are  calm  and  peaceful,  the  mornings  cool,  the 
evenings  so  rich  in  coloring  that  they  seem  to  dye 
the  whole  woodland  with  sunset  hues ;  for  the  maple, 
oak,  birch,  and  beech  trees  glow  with  a  gorgeous- 
ness  unknown  to  similar  trees  in  England. 

13.  If  the  day  is  windy  you  can  track  the  moose 
and  the  car'iboo,  or  perchance  a  bear,  through  the 


2o8         Animals  Found  in  the  Woods. 


deep,  shady  recess'es  of  the  forest.  On  a  still  day 
you  may  steal  noiselessly  over  the  smooth  surface 
of  some  lake,  or  along  a  quiet  reach  of  a  river. 

14.  Just  beyond  us  is  a  little  clump  of  pines,  and 
all  around,  a  gray  meadow,  quite  open  for  about 

fifty  yards,  then 
dotted  with  oc- 
casional firs  with 
long  tresses   of 
gray    moss   hang- 
ing    from      their 
stunted      limbs. 
The     trees     grow 
closer    and    more 
vigorous  till  they 
merge     into     the 
gloomy,  unbroken 
forest  beyond. 

15.  Haunting1 
these  solitudes  * 
are  birds  and 
beasts,  the  hooting 
owl,  the  beaver, 
the  wolf,  the  cari- 
boo a  kind  of  rein- 
deer, and  the  huge, 
ungainly  moose. 

1 6.  Scarcely  had  I  sat  down  before  I  heard  old 
John  call  gently  like  a  moose  to  attract  my  atten- 
tion. Now  it  must  be  borne  in  mind  that,  when 


1  Haunting,  hant'ing. 


Solitudes,  sdl'i-tudes. 


The  Moose  Approaches — His  Escape.  209 

hunting,  you  never  call  or  speak  like  a  human  being, 
for  to  do  so  might  scare  away  game ;  but  you  may 
grunt  like  a  moose,  hoot  like  an  owl,  or  imitate 
any  sound  made  by  any  of  the  brute  creation.  I 
crept  up  quickly,  and  in  obedience  to  John's  whisper 
gave  him  the  moose-caller,  and  following  the  direc- 
tion of  his  eyes,  saw  a  small  moose  slowly  crossing 
the  barren  some  four  or  five  hundred  yards  to  our 
left. 

17.  The  moose  came  on  boldly.     We  planted  our- 
selves right  in  his  way,  just  on  the  edge  of  the  woods, 
and  crouching  close  to  the  ground,  waited  for  him. 
Presently  we  heard  his  hoarse  voice  close  to  us,  and 
the  crackling  of  the  bushes  as  he  passed  through 
them ;  then  silence  fell  again,  and  we  heard  nothing 
but  the  thumping  of  our  hearts;  another  advance 
and  he  stopped  once  more,  within  apparently  about 
fifty  yards  of  us. 

1 8.  Arter  a  long,  almost  insupportable  pause,  he 
came  on  again  ;  we  could  hear  his  footsteps,  we  could 
hear  the  grass  rustling,  we  could  hear  him  breathing, 
we  could  see  the  bushes  shaking,  but  we  could  not 
make  out  even  the  faintest  outline  of  him  in  the 
dark.     Again  he  stopped,  and  our  hearts  seemed  to 
stand  still  also  with  expectation ;  another  step  must 
have  brought  him  out  almost  within  reach  of  me, 
when  suddenly  there  was  a  tremendous  crash ! 

19.  He   had   discovered    us,  and  was  off  with  a 
crackling  of  dead  limbs,  rattling  of  horns,  and  smash- 
ing of  branches,    which   made  the    woods  resound 
again.     Disappointed  we  were,    but    not    unhappy, 
for  the  first  duty  of  the  hunter  is  to  drill  himself  into 


2  io  Successful  Bear  Hunt. 

that  peculiar  frame  of  mind  which  enables  a  man  to 
exult  when  he  is  successful,  and  to  accept  defeat 
without  giving  way  to  despondency. 

20.  After  awhile  we  espied  a  bear,  and  although 
having  a  good  opportunity,  I  made  a  bad  shot,  strik- 
ing the  animal  too  low  down  on  the  shoulder,  and 
only  breaking  his  leg.     With  a  violent  snort  of  pain 
and  astonishment,    but  without  looking   round  for 
a  second  to  see  what  was  the  matter,  away  went 
"  bruin  "  down  the  mountain-side  at  a  most  surpris- 
ing pace.    "  Come  on,"  yelled  John  ;  "  try  and  head 
him  off;  if  he  once  gets  down  into  the  timber  he  is 
gone  sure."     And  away  we  went  after  him  as  hard 
as  we  could  tear. 

21.  How  John  jumped  and  bounded  and  yelled, 
and  how  the  bear  did  bound  down  that  hillside  !     He 
seemed  to  go  twice  as  fast  on  three  legs  as  any  other 
animal  ever  went  on  four.     Sometimes  John  would 
head  the  bear  and  turn   him,  sometimes  'he  bear 
would  make  a  drive  at  John  and  turn  him,  which 
would  give  me  time  to  get  up  ;  and  so  we  went  on 
yelling    and   whooping  and    plunging  through    the 
tangled,    matted   junipers,1  the  bear  doubling  and 
twisting   and  sometimes    charging    us,    but    always 
struggling  gallantly  to  gain  the  shelter  of  the  woods. 

22.  I  missed  the  bear  several  times,  until  at  last 
with  a  successful  shot  I  rolled  him  over,  and  John 
and   I   threw  ourselves  down  exhausted  beside  his 
dead  body. 

EARL  OF  DUNRAVEN. 

1  Junipers,  ju'ne-purz. 


How  Coai,  is  Obtained. 


211 


VIII.     MINING:    COAL,  IRON,   ETC. 


i  To  get  coal,  men  must 
sink  a  shaft  ;  that  is,  they 
must  dig  a  great  hole  in 
the  ground  until  they  come 
to  where  the  coal  is  best 
and  most  abundant.  The 
hole  or  shaft  must  be  large 
enough  for  very  large 
buckets  full  of  coal  to  be 
raised  up  from  the  bottom ; 
and  to  raise  these  there 
must  be  a  steam-engine  at 
the  mouth  of  the  shaft 
This  must  have  a  house 
built  over  it  to  protect  the 
machinery  and  the  work- 
men, and  this  is  the  house 
that  you  see  in  the  chart. 

2.  Down  below,  at  the 
bottom  of  the  shaft,  men 
are  working  away  with  pickaxes  and  shovels, 
making  passages  wherever  they  find  coaL 
These  passages  are  called  galleries.  In  a  coal- 
miner's  life  there  are  many  dangers.  Some- 
times the  sides  or  roof  of  the  gallery  fall  on  him 


Blackboard  Drawing-  of 
a  Mine,  Shaft,  Chute, 
and  Engine-house. 


212  Dangers  of  the  Mine. 

and  crush  him  ;  sometimes  the  choke-damp 
(coal-gas,  or  carbonic  acid)  comes  and  chokes 
him  to  death  ;  and  sometimes  the  "  fire-damp  " 
(explosive  gas)  comes,  and  blows  him  like  a 
bullet  along  the  gallery  or  up  the  shaft,  and 
sometimes  it  is  strong  enough  to  blow  the 
mine  to  pieces,  shattering  the  steam-engine 
and  breaking  into  little  sticks  the  house  that 
covers  it. 

3.  Sir  Humphry  Davy,  who  was  once  a  poor  boy,  in- 
vented a  safety-lamp  for  the  miners.     He   surrounded  a 
common  lamp  with  fine  wire  gauze,  so  that  the  flame  could 
not   get  through  it  to  set  fire  to  the  explosive  gas;  yet, 
strange  to  say,  the  gas  will  go  through  the  wire  gauze  and 
burn  quietly  in  the  lamp,  thus  helping  the  miner  by  giving 
him  light  instead  of  blowing  him  to  pieces. 

4.  This  fire-damp  that  kills  these  miners  is  pretty  much 
the  same  as  the  gas  that  burns  so  quietly  in  our  houses  (be- 
ing carbureted  hydrogen  mixed  with  some  olefiant  gas). 
If,  when  ordinary  gas  (carbureted  hydrogen)  has  been  leak- 
ing to  a  certain  extent  in  a  room,  any  person  enters  that 
room  with  a  lighted  candle,  just  such  an  explosion  takes 
place  in  that  room  as  at  the  bottom  of  a  mine.     Explo- 
sions in  mines  happen  every  year  in  this  country,  especi- 
ally in  Pennsylvania,  also  in  England  and  Wales, 
and  many  persons  have  been  thus  injured. 

5.  It   is   curious  to   get   into   one  of  these 
big  coal-buckets  and  be  lowered  down  to  the 
bottom  of  the  shaft.     What  seemed  from  the 
top  to  be  like  little  stars  or  glow-worms  moving 
about  below,  turn  out  to  be  little  lamps  fast- 


Coal — How  Transported — Cannel  Coal.    213 

ened  in  front  of  the  miners'  caps,  so  as  to  give 
them  light  and  leave  both  their  hands  free  to 
hold  the  pickaxe  or 
the  shovel. 

6.  When  the  coal 
has  reached  the  top 
of  the  shaft,  it  is  put 
into  small  cars  that 
run    on    a    sloping 
railroad  or  tramway, 
such  as  you  can  see 
in   the   large    chart, 
until    it    reaches    a 
railroad,  along  which 
it  is  drawn  to  some 
place  where  it  is  sold 
for  use,  or  to  some 
place  where   it   can 
be   put   into   canal- 
boats,  or  ships,  and 
go   wherever    water 

Interior  of  a  Coal-Mine. 

goes. 

7.  Many  coal-mines  are  reached  from  the  side 
of  a  mountain  or  hill  by  way  of  a  kind  of  tun- 
nel instead  of  a  shaft.    Coal  is  brought  from  the 
inside  of  the  mine  to  the  opening,  mostly  in 
small  cars  which  are  moved  by  horses  or  mules 
and  sometimes  by  the  miners  themselves. 

8.  One   kind  of  coal,  called  first   in    Lan- 


214        Coal-fields —  Their  Exten t —  Gas. 

cashire,  in  England,  cannel  coal  (that  is, 
candle  or  can'le  coal),  will  burn  like  pine  wood. 
If  you  take  a  splinter  of  it  and  hold  it  in  the 
flame  of  a  candle,  it  will  take  fire  and  continue 
to  burn,  giving  out  a  light  like  a  candle.  This 
kind  of  coal  can  also  be  turned  in  the  turning- 
lathe  as  wood  is  turned,  and  sometimes  snuff- 
boxes are  made  from  it. 

9.  The  gas  we  burn  in  our  houses  is  made 
from  coal,  which,  therefore,  not  only  warms  us 
in  winter,  but  cooks  our  supper  and  gives  us 
light  to  eat  it  by. 

10.  Many   millions  of  tons  of  coal   are   pro- 
duced   every    year.      Our    steamboats,    ocean 
steamers,  locomotives,   and    steam-engines   use 
up  many  tons  of  this  black  fuel. 

11.  Coal  has  been  in  use  in  England  for  nearly  six  hun- 
dred years.     In  the  reign  of  Edward  I.  (1272-1307)  the 
use  of  coal  was  forbidden  because  its  smoke  was  said  to  be 
injurious  to  health. 

1 2.  In  this  country  what  are  called  coal-fields 
have  an  extent  of  about  300,000  square  miles. 
You  must  not  imagine,  however,  that  all  this 
country  looks  black  with  coal.     On  the  contrary, 
very  little  of  it  crops  out  on  the  surface,  and  you 
may  have  a  very  fine  farm  with  all  its  trees  and 
crops  spread  out  over  a  valuable  coal-mine,  so 
that  they  may  both  be  worked  without  inter- 
fering with  one  another. 


Coal — From  What  Formed.  215 

13.  You  learned  in  the  previous  chapter  how 
necessary  leaves  are  to  the  life  and  growth  of  a 
tree,  and  how  valuable  some  kinds  are,  such  as 
those  of  the  tea  and  the  tobacco  plant ;  but  do 
you  see  any  use  in  the  leaves  of  the  forest  after 
they  have  withered  and  fallen  in  the  autumn? 

14.  If  you  should  dig  down  in  the  ground 
you  would  see  that  the  soil  at  the  top  is  black 
and  rich,  while  deeper  down  it  is  light-colored 
and  poor.     The  blackness  and  richness  of  the 
surface  soil  is  due  chiefly  to  the  withered  leaves 
which  fell  from  year  to  year  and  went  to  decay ; 
thus  you   may   trace   back  the    abundance   of 
your  bread,  through  large  crops  of  wheat  and 
rich  soil,  to  dead  leaves  or  dead  grass. 

15.  That    is    not    all:    geologists*   tell    us, 
among  many  other  wonderful  and  interesting 
things,  that  they  have  traced    the  coal  which 
miners    dig   out   of  the   earth    away    back   to 
trees,   plants,   leaves,  etc.,   which    had    become 
buried  in  great  masses  under  the  surface  of  the 
earth. 

1 6.  Just  how  all  these  immense  beds  of  coal 
were  made,  learned  men  have  not  agreed.     They 
appear  to  have  been  made  in  some  mysterious 
manner,  long,  long  ago,  from  trees,  plants,  and 
seeds  (especially  ferns  and  mosses),  because  the 

*  Men  who  have  studied  the  formation  of  the  earth— its  rocks,  mountains, 
soils,  etc. 


216        Coal — How  Formed — Charcoal. 


Sand  Stona 
Coal  Bed. 

Clay, 
lion  Ore. 
Lime  Stone. 

Slaty  Bock. 
Iron  Cre. 
Sand  Stone. 
Coal  Bed. 

Clay. 


Interior  or  Sectional  View  in  the  Coal  Regions. 

remains  and  impressions  of  such  have  been 
found  in  them.  It  is  also  probable  that  the 
water  on  the  earth,  the  heat  inside  of  the 
earth,  volcanic  action,  and  several  successive 
elevations  and  depressions  of  the  surface  had  a 
good  deal  to  do  with  the  formation  of  coal. 

17.  Charcoal  is  made  by  covering,  almost  en- 
tirely, a  large  pile  of  wood  with  sod  and  earth 
and  setting  it  on  fire. 


Coke — Iron — Iron  Furnaces.          217 

1 8.  Coke  bears  the  same  relation  to  coal  that 
charcoal  does  to  wood.     The  coal  is  heated  in 
air-tight  iron  vessels,  from  which  tubes  run  into 
water,  so  that  all  the  gas  may  bubble  through 
into  another  vessel    and    be  drawn   thence  to 
light  our  houses.     Thus  we  contrive  to  make 
coke  and  gas  at  the  same  time. 

1 9.  The  coke  we  burn  in  our  grates  to  warm  us ; 
and  the  gas,  in  our  gas-burners  to  give  us  light. 

20.  The  annual  coal  production  of  the  world  is  about 
300,000,000  tons ;    one-half  of  which  is  obtained  in  Great 
Britain,  one-sixth   in   the  United   States,  one-sixth  in  Ger- 
many, and  nearly   all   the   rest  in    France,  Belgium,  and 
Austria.     The  deepest  mines  in  the  world  are  in  England. 
They  are   more  than    2,000  feet  beneath  the  surface  of 
the  earth.     One  is  over  2,400  feet  in  depth. 

21.  There  are  many  things  represented  in  the 
chart  that  are  made  of  iron.     Mention  some  of 
them. 

22.  Iron  is  the  most  useful  metal  in  the  world ; 
it  is  far  more  useful  to  us  than  gold  and  sil- 
ver.    Iron   is  very  seldom    found   pure.     It  is 
almost  always  mixed  with  other  substances,  and 
this  mixture  is  called  iron  ore.     To  get  the  iron 
from  this,  men  build  large  furnaces  of  fire-proof 
brick,  and  after  they  have  built  a  very  hot  fire 
in  the  bottom  of  one  of  these  they    put  in  a 
quantity  of  iron  ore,  then  about  as  much  lime- 
stone broken  up  into  a  convenient  size,  and  then 
on  top  of  the  limestone  about  as  much  coal 


2i8  Iron — How  Manufactured. 

23.  Thus  they  keep  putting  in  layers  of  ore, 
limestone,  and   coal   until    the   whole   furnace, 
which  is  sometimes  sixty  feet  high,  is  filled  up 
to  the  top.     As  the  mass  sinks  down  they  put 
on  more  to  keep  the  furnace  always  full.     The 
fire  burns  all  through  this  mass,  so  that  the  ore 
is  melted  ;  a  part  of  which  mixes  with  the  heat- 
ed limestone,  making  what  is  called  slag,  and 
leaving  the  iron  free  to  run  down  below.     This 
the  iron  is  sure  to  do,  because  it  is  heavier  than 
all  the  other  things. 

24.  The  fire  in  the  furnace  is  kept  up  day  and 
night,  and  on  Sundays  as  well,  because  if  they 
were  to  allow  the  fire  to  go  out,  it  would  take 
about  a  week  to  get  it  in  order  again.     But  the 
same  men    do  not   work    at   it   all   the  time ; 
there  are  two  sets  or  gangs  of  them,  and  their 
time  is  arranged  so  that  each  gang  shall   have 
the  same  amount  of  night-work.     Twice  a  day 
they  let  the  melted  iron  run  out  of  the  furnace 
and    conduct  it  along  narrow   earthen  gutters 
into  hollows  or  molds  of  sand  or  iron,  about  three 
feet  long  and  three  inches  wide  as  well  as  deep. 

25.  These,  from  their  lying  side  by  side  like  a 
litter  of  pigs,  are  called  pig-iron.     This  is  again 
melted  to  make  anything  of  cast-iron,  and  is 
poured  into  very  smooth  earthen  molds  of  the 
desired  shape.     All  our  iron  stoves  are  made  of 
such  castings. 


Wr  ought-Iron — Steel.  219 

26.  To   make   wrought-iron,  the   pig-iron  is 
melted,  and  a  convenient  quantity  is  lifted  out 
and   beaten   with    hammers   continually   while 
hot,  and  in  every  direction,  until  it  is  sufficiently 
thus   "wrought,"   which    makes  it   tough   and 
flexible. 

27.  This   is   then  made  into  bars  or  chains 
or  any  other  shape  that  is  preferred.     It  is  also 
rolled  while  hot  between  rollers  with  grooves 
in  them  so  as  to  make  long  bars  of  different 
shapes   and   thicknesses  for  different  purposes. 
Wire  also  is  made  from  wrought-iron. 

28.  To  make  steel,  this  iron  is  heated  again 
with  charcoal ;    part  of  the  charcoal  goes  into 
the  iron  and  makes  it  capable  of   being  tem- 
pered in  the  fire,  so  as  to  be  made  very  hard 
and  very  elastic,  taking  thus  a  finer  edge  when 
made  into  tools  and    ground.     It  is  from  this 
that  we  get  all  our  knives,  hatchets,  axes,  chis- 
els, gouges,  adzes,  and  other  tools.     Razors  are 
made  from  the  best  and  finest  steel,  and  when 
carefully  ground  and  sharpened  have  a  very  fine 
cutting  edge. 

29.  More  iron  is  obtained  in  England  than  in  any  other 
country  in  the  world ;  and  in  Pennsylvania  and  Michigan, 
which  furnish  about  one-half  the  quantity  produced  in  the 
United  States.     (Census  1880.) 

30.  In  Missouri  is  Iron  Mountain,  a  mass  of  iron  200 
feet  high,  covering  an  area  of  500  acres. 

31.  The   place   most   noted   for   the   manufacture   of 
knives  is  Sheffield,  a  town  in  England. 


22O       Salt-mines — Salt,  how  Obtained. 


32.  The   salt-mines    in    the    northern 
part  of  Austria  are  about  1,000  feet  in 
depth  and  two  miles  in  length.   They  con- 
tain many  great  rooms,  galleries,  and  pas- 
sages, all  cut  out  by  the  miners.   There  are 
valuable  salt-mines  also  in  Russia,  Eng- 
land, Germany,  Italy,  and  Spain. 

33.  Salt    is   obtained    not    only   from 
mines,  but  also  from  the   water  of   the 
ocean,  salt  springs  and  wells,  which  you 
have  already  learned  in  the  chapter  on 
springs  and  wells. 


A  Famous  Salt-mine  in  Austria. 


Silver-mining. 


221 


Silver-mines  in  Colorado. 

34.  Silver-mining  is  carried   on  very  exten- 
sively in  the  States  of  Nevada  and  Colorado, 
where  some  men  have  become  immensely  rich 
almost  in  a  single  day,  owing  to  the  discovery 
of  silver  on  their  land. 

35.  Many    of    the   mines   are    far    up    high 
mountains  and  reach  to  great  distances  within 
them. 

36.  Silver  is  found  also  in    Utah,  Montana, 
and  other  Territories  of  the  United  States.     It 
was  formerly  found  in  large  quantities  in  Mexi- 
co, Bolivia,  and  Peru. 

37.  It  is  said  that  many  years  ago  an  Indian  hunter  in 
South  America,  in  pulling  up  a  shrub,  observed  something 
white  and  shining  clinging  to  the  roots,  and  that  this  led  to 
the  discovery  of  a  mountain  almost  filled  with  silver. 


Gold-mining —  Copper. 

38.  Gold,  the  most  precious  of  all  the  metals 
is  found  not  only  in  deep  mines  like  those  of 
iron,  coal,  or  silver — 

39.  It  has  been  found  in  the  sands  of  streams, 

into  which  it  has  been  carried 
from  the   crumbling   rocks   by 
rains,  and  from  which  it  is  ob- 
tained by  washing.     Consider- 
able gold  is  obtained  by  direct- 
ing a  powerful  stream  of  water 
Gold-washing.      against  the  rocks  by  means  of  a 
hose,  which  is  supplied  from  large  collections  of 
water  on  higher  ground.    This  is  called  hydrau- 
lic mining. 

40.  Pure  gold  is  too  soft  for  general  use,  there- 
fore it  is  mixed  with  silver  or  copper,  which  are 
harder ;  it  is  then  said  to  be  alloyed,  or  reduced 
in  purity. 

41.  For  gilding,  a  portion  of  gold  is  ham- 
mered out  into  leaves  so  thin  that  several  hun- 
dred of  them  together  would  be  no  thicker  than 
one  of  the  leaves  of  your  book. 

42.  California,  Nevada,  and  Australia 
have  long  been  celebrated  for  gold. 

43.  Copper  ore  is  found  in  several  countries 
and  States,    especially   in   the    Republic   of 
Chili  and  in  the  State  of  Michigan,  along 
the  shores  of  Lake  Superior. 


Tin — Zinc — Lead — Brass.  223 

44.  Tin  ore  is  obtained  principally  from  the 
mines  of  England,  Australia,  the  Malay 
Peninsula,  and  two  islands,  Banca  and  Bil- 
liton,  which  lie  southeast  of  that  peninsula. 

45.  In  Cornwall,  the    most    southwestern   county   in 
England,  are  hundreds  of  mines  of  tin  and  copper,  some 
of  which  extend  far  out  from  the  shore  and  under  the  bed 
of  the  ocean ;  in  these  the  moaning  of  the  restless  waves 
overhead  is  always  heard,  and  their  roaring  while  a  storm 
lasts  is  fearful  to  listen  to. 

46.  Tin  is  white  and  bright,  but  too  soft  for  ordinary 
use;  therefore,  sheets  of  iron  are  dipped  into  melted  tin, 
enough  of  which  adheres  to  the  iron  to  form  a  thin  white 
coating.  Sheet-iron  thus  coated  is  the  substance  of  which 
tin  cups,  pans,  etc.,  are  made,  and  with  which  the  roofs  of 
some  houses  are  covered*  You  see,  therefore,  that  a  tin 
cup  is  really  made  of  iron. 

47.  Bronze  and  bell-metal  are  made  of  copper  and  tin 
mixed   together.       Brass   is   made   of    copper    and    zinc 
mixed  together.     There  are,  consequently,   no   mines   or 
ores  of  brass  or  bronze. 

48.  Zinc  is  a  metal  of  a  bluish  gray  tint.     It  is  exten- 
sively mined  in  several  countries  in  Europe,  and  in  the 
States  of  Wisconsin,  Missouri,  New  Jersey,  and 
Pennsylvania. 

49.  Lead  is  mined  very    extensively    in  "Wisconsin, 
Illinois,  Iowa,   and   Missouri.     It  is  used  in  roofing 
houses,  lining  tanks,  and  in  making  bullets,  shot,  and  wa- 
ter-pipes. 

50.  Lead  pencils  are  made  of  a  mineral  called  plumba- 
go, which   is   not   lead,  but  a  kind  of  coal.      Extensive 
mines  of  this  substance  are  found  in  England  and  Si- 
beria. 


224  Dangers  in  the  Mines. 


IX.     DANGERS  IN   THE   MINES. 

|HERE  is  danger  in  the  mines,  old  man,"  I 
said  to  an  aged  miner,  who,  with  his  arms 
bent,  leaned  against  the  side  of  an  im- 
mense vault,  absorbed  in  meditation  ;  "  it  must  be  a 
fearful  life." 

2.  The  old  man  looked  at  me  with  a  steadfast  but 
somewhat  vacant  stare,  and  then  in  half-broken  sen- 
tences he  uttered,  "  Danger — where  is  there  not  ? — 
on  the  earth  or  beneath  it — in  the  mountain  or  in 
the  valley — on  the  ocean  or  in  the  quiet  of  nature's 
most  hidden  spot — where  is   there  not    danger? — 
where  has  not  death  left  some  token  of  his  presence  ? 

3.  "True,"  I  replied,  "  but  the  vicissitudes  of  life 
are  various  ;  the  sailor  seeks  his  living  on  the  waters, 
and  he  knows  each  moment  that  they  may  engulf 
him ;  the  hunter  braves  death  in  the  wild  woods,  and 
the  soldier  on  the  battle-field,  and  the  miner  knows 
not  but  the  spot  where  he  now  stands,  to-morrow 
may  be  his  tomb." 

4.  "  It  is  so,  indeed  ;  "  replied  the  old  man  ;  "  we 
find  death  in  the  means  we  seek  to  perpetuate  life ; 
'tis  a  strange  riddle  ;  who  shall  solve  it  ?  " 

5.  "  Have  you  long  followed  this  occupation  ?"    I 
asked,  somewhat  struck  by  the  old  man's  manner. 

6.  "  From  a  boy ;  I  drew  my  first  breath  in  the 
mines, — I  shall  yield  it  up  in  their  gloom." 

7.  "  You  have  seen  some  of  those  vicissitudes  to 
which  you  have  just  now  alluded  ?  " 


Dangers  in  the  Mines.  225 

8.  "Yes!"  he  replied  with  a  faltering  voice,  "I 
have ;   there  was  a  time  that  three  tall  boys  looked 
up  to  me  and  called  me  father.     They  were  sturdy 
fellows  !      Now,   it  seems  but  yesterday  that    they 
stood  before  me  so   proud  in  their  strength,  and  I 
was  filled  with  a  father's  vanity. 

9.  "Where  are  they  now? 

10.  "I  saw  the  youngest — he  was  the  dearest  of 
the  flock,  his  mother's  spirit  seemed  to  have  settled 
on  him — crushed  at  my  feet,  a  bleeding  mass.     One 
moment,  and  his  light  laugh  was  in  my  ears ;  the 
next,  and  the  large  mass  came.     There  was  no  cry — 
no  look  of  terror ;  but  the  transition  to  eternity  was 
as  the  lightning's  flash,  and  my  poor  boy  lay  crushed 
beneath  the  fearful  load.     It  was  an  awful  moment. 

11.  "But  my  cup  of  affliction  was  not  yet  full. 
I  had  still  two  sons.    They,  too,  were  taken  from  me. 
Side  by  side  they  died,  the  fire-damp  caught  their 
breath,  and  left  them  lifeless.     They  brought  them 
home  to  the  old  man,  and  told  him  that  he  was 
childless  and  alone.     It  is  a  strange  decree  that  the 
plant    should   thus   survive   the    stripling   things  it 
shaded,  and  for  whom  it  would  have  died  a  thousand 
times.      Is  it  surprising  that  I  should  wish  to  die  in 
the  mines?" 

12.  "You   have   indeed,"    I    replied,   "been    ac- 
quainted with  grief.     Whence  did  you  derive  conso- 
lation?" 

13.  The  old  man  looked  up,  "From  heaven." 

HOOD. 


226  Descent  into  a  Salt  Mine. 


X.     DESCENT  INTO  A  SALT  MINE. 

JAR  away,  in  Eastern  Europe,  the  traveler 
comes  upon  a  long,  low  range  of  hills, 
stretching  from  east  to  west,  which  enclose, 
with  their  soft  outlines  and  well-wooded  slopes,  a 
lovely  valley,  dotted  here  and  there  with  smaller 
hills  and  little  knolls. 

2.  It  is  a  busy  scene  to  which  he  comes,  and  men 
are  moving  briskly  about  through  the  narrow  streets. 
They  wear  a  strange  costume  of  sombre  black,  and 
have  thick  leather  aprons  tied  on  behind  instead  of 
in  front ;  they  look  cheerful  and  happy,  and  many  a 
merry  song  and  sweet  car'ol  is  heard  far  and  near. 

3.  The  traveler  engages  one  of  these  men  to  show 
him  the  way  into  the  mysterious  world  below,  of 
which  he  has  heard  much  ;  and  soon  he  finds  himself 
arrayed  in  a  white  blouse1  and  black  velvet  cap,  such 
as  are  kept  ready  for  visitors,  at  the  mouth  of  the  shaft. 

1  Blouse,  blouzc* 


Descent  into  a  Salt  Mine.  227 

4.  The  two  descend  and  soon  the  traveler  finds 
himself  in  a  vast  underground  cor'ridor,  cut  out  of 
salt.     As  soon  as  his  eyes  become  accustomed  to  the 
dim  light  of  the  candle  stuck  in  his  hat,  he  sees  huge 
blocks  of  the  precious  material  lying  about,  some 
colorless,  some  shining  in  beautiful  though  subdued 
blue  ;  the  vaulted  ceiling  rests  on  gigantic  pillars,  in 
which  each  ti'ny  grain  shines  brightly  and  sparkles  as 
the    light   falls   upon    it.      A  little  further  on  the 
miners  are  hard  at  work;  they  attack  the  mountain- 
side, and  cut  out  immense  blocks. 

5.  As  the  traveler  wanders  on  through  the  long 
dark   passages,   with    statues  in  niches  and  at   the 
corners,  he  passes  large  vaulted  rooms,  dark  caves, 
and  huge  recess'es,  that  seem  to  have  no  end,  and 
at   times  he   comes    upon  stairs,    cut    in  the   rock, 
which  he  has  to  descend  cautiously,  so  smooth  and 
slippery  is  the  material  of  which  they  are  formed. 

6.  Suddenly  he  sees  bright  lights  before  him,  and, 
dazzled  and  surprised,  he  enters  a  vast  cathedral, 
the  walls  of  which  shine  and  shimmer  all  around  in 
fanciful  flitting  lights,,  as  the  light  of  torches  and 
candles  falls  upon  the  bright  masses  of  salt ;  there  is 
the  altar  with  its  colos'sal  cross,  and  at  the  side  the 
organ  and  choir ; *  here  also  images  abound  on  all 
sides  cut  out  in  the  yielding  material. 

7.  Further  on,  the  traveler  sees  a  smaller  chapel 
devoted  to  the  memory  of  the  pious  wife  of  one  of 
Poland's  early  kings,  who  had,  in  1252,  the  honor  of 
bestowing  the  knowledge  of  these  wondrous  treasures 
on  her  impoverished  subjects. 

1  Choir,  kwire. 


228  Flint  and  Steel. 


XL     FLINT    AND    STEEL. 

HE  Flint  and  Steel — the  story  goes- 
Old  friends  by  natural  relation, 
Fell  out,  one  day,  and  like  two  foes> 
Indulged  in  bitter  altercation. 

"  I'm  weary,"  said  the  angry  Flint, 
"  Of  being  beat :  'tis  past  concealing  ; 
Your  conduct  (witness  many  a  dint 
Upon  my  sides !)  is  most  unfeeling. 

"  And  what  reward  have  I  to  show  ? 

What  sort  of  payment  do  you  render 
To  one  who  hears  each  hateful  blow 

That  you  may  blaze  in  transient  splendor? 

34  You  seem  to  think  yourself  abused," 
The  Steel  replied  with  proper  spirit ; 

"  But,  say,  unless  with  me  you're  used, 
What  praise  of  service  do  you  merit  ? 

"Your  worth,  as  any  one  may  see 

(For  all  your  feeling  of  defiance), 
Is  simply  nought,  unless  with  me 
You  keep  your  natural  alliance." 

"True  !"  said  the  Flint;  "but  there's  no  call, 

Whate'er  my  worth,  for  you  to  flout  it ; 
My  value,  sir !  may  be  but  small ; 

But  think  what  yours  would  be  without  it !  " 

J.  G.  SAXE. 


The  Coal  Mine.  229 


XII.    THE   COAL  MINE. 

JANY  plants  have  been  found  in  a  pet'rified 
state  in  the  rocks  of  the  coal  formation. 
There  they  are  preserved  for  us  in  the  most 
wonderful  museum  1  in  the  world.  It  is  astonishing 
sometimes  to  find  that  the  texture — the  fibres  and 
the  pulp — have  all  preserved  their  forms  unaltered, 
though  the  substance  itself  has  entirely  disappeared. 

2.  A  Town  Hall  in  Germany  contains  a  staircase 
of  sandstone,  each  fragment  of  which  clearly  indicates 
that  it  was  originally  of  wood. 

3.  One  of  the  most  marvelous  natural  curiosities 
which  attract  geologists  to  Tasmania,  is  the  "forest 
of  petrified  trees"    a  great   number    of  which    are 
transformed  into  the  most  beautiful  opal.2 

4.  These  trees  are  standing  upright,  and  it  would 
seem  that  they  were  in  full  growth  when  the  burn- 
ing lava  overwhelmed  them.     Some  fragments  have 
been  carefully  examined,  and  looked  so  full  of  life, 
so   absolutely  like   wood,  that   only  a   very   careful 
examination  brought  the  conviction  that  they  were 
really  stone. 

5.  Coal  was  formed,  as  we  know,  by  the  great 
wealth  of  primitive  vegetation  that  covered  the  whole 
earth.     Every  one  has  observed  that  in  damp  cellars, 
in  which  dry  wood  is  kept  during  winter,  there  is  a 
soft-wood  layer  left  behind,  which  looks  like  vegeta- 
ble mould,  and  it  is  also  well  known  how  our  marsh- 

1  Museum,  mu-ze'um,  not  mu'.  8  Opal,  d'pl. 


230  Eureka — /  have  Found  it. 

plants  are  gradually  changed  into  peat.  In  a  similar 
but  far  more  powerful  manner  was  our  early  vegeta- 
tion converted  into  coal. 

6.  At  that  early  day,  it  appears  that  the  vegetable 
world  was  preparing  for  man  the  fuel  necessary  for 
his  comfort  and  industry. 


XIII.     EUREKA— I  HAVE  FOUND  IT. 

(THE  LESSON  OF  THE  BATH.) 
INK  of  the  most  valuable  discoveries  made  by 


Archimedes,1  the  famous  scholar  of  Syr'a- 
cuse,  in  Sicily,  relates   to   the  weight    of 
bodies  immersed  in  water. 

2.  Hiero,  king  of  Syracuse,  had  given  a  lump  of 
gold  to  be  made  into  a  crown,  and  when  it  came 
back  he  suspected  that  the  workmen  had  kept  back 
some  of  the  gold,  and  had  made  up  the  weight  by 
substituting  silver ;  but  he  had  no  means  of  proving 
this,  because  they  had  made  it  weigh  as  much  as  the 
gold  which  had  been  sent. 

3.  Archimedes,  puzzling  over  this  problem,  went 
to  his  bath.     As  he  stepped  in  he  saw  the  water, 
which  his  body  displaced,  rise  to  a  higher  level  in 
the  bath,  and  to  the  astonishment  of  his  servants  he 
sprang  out  of  the  water,  and  ran  home  through  the 
streets  of  Syracuse  almost  naked,  crying,  "Eureka  !  * 
Eureka  !  "     ("  I  have  found  it !    I  have  found  it !  ") 

1  Archimedes,  Ar-ki-me'dez,  the  most  celebrated  mathematician 
and  inventor  previous  to  287  B.  C. 

2  Eureka,  u-r?ka,  Greek  for  "  I  have  found  it." 


Archimedes  and  his  Discovery.        231 

4.  What  had  he  found  ?     He  had  discovered  that 
any  solid  body  put  into  a  vessel  of  water  displaces  a 
quantity  of  water  equal  to  its  own  bulk,  and  there- 
fore that  equal  weights  of  two  substances,  one  light 
and  bulky,  and  the  other  heavy  and  small,  will  dis- 
place different  quantities  of  water. 

5.  This  discovery  enabled  him  to  solve  his  prob- 
lem.    He  procured  one  lump  of  gold  and  another  of 
silver,  each  weighing  exactly  the  same  as  the  crown. 
Of  course  the  lumps  were  not  the  same  size,  because 
silver  is  lighter  than  gold,  and  so  it  takes  more  of  it 
to  make  up  the  same  weight.     He  first  put  the  gold 
into  a  basin  of  water,  and  marked  on  the  side  of  the 
vessel  the  height  to  which  the  water  rose. 

6.  Next,  taking  out  the  gold,  he  put  in  the  silver, 
which,  though  it  weighed  the  same,  yet,  being  larger, 
made  the  water  rise  higher ;  and  this  height  he  also 
marked.     Lastly,  he  took  out  the  silver  and  put  in 
the  crown. 

7.  Now,  if  the   crown   had   been  pure  gold,  the 
water  would  have  risen  only  up  to  the  mark  of  the 
gold ;  but  it  rose  higher,  and  stood  between  the  gold 
and   silver   marks,    showing   that    silver    had   been 
mixed  with  the  gold,  making  the  crown  more  bulky ; 
and  by  calculating  how  much  water  was  displaced, 
Archime'des  could  estimate  how  much  silver  had  been 
added. 

8.  This  was  the  first  attempt  to  measure  the  specific 
gravity  of  different  substances  ;  that  is,  the  weight  of 
any  particular  substance  compared  to  an  equal  bulk  of 
some  other  substance  taken  as  a  standard.    In  weigh- 
ing solids  or  liquids,  water  is  the  usual  standard. 


232        Volcanoes — Earthquakes — Lava. 


Volcano  and  other  Mountains. 


XIV.     MOUNTAINS,  VOLCANOES. 

i.  Here  is  a  volcano,  which  is  a  burning 
mountain.  Sometimes  volcanoes  throw  out  red- 
hot  stones,  sometimes  melted  stones  called  lava, 
sometimes  smoke,  and  sometimes  ashes.  Most 
of  them  are  along  the  Pacific  coasts  of  Asia 
and  South  America.  There  are  more  than  a 
thousand  volcanoes  in  the  world.  They  are 
useful  in  preventing  earthquakes  ;  in  supplying 
us  with  sulphur,  with  some  fine  kinds  of  lava, 
from  which  bracelets  and  breast-pins  are  made, 
and  with  pumice-stone,  which  is  the  froth  that 
floats  sometimes  on  streams  of  lava. 


Stromboli — Vesuvius.  2  3  3 

2.  In  1783  a  volcano  in  Iceland  sent  out  two  streams  of 
lava,  one  40  miles  long  and  7  miles  wide,  and  the  other  50 
miles  long  and  15  miles  wide.     These  streams  were  from 
100  to  600  feet  deep.    In  this  eruption  n,ooocows,  27,000 
horses,  and  186,000  sheep  perished. 

3.  In  the   island   of  Java   is   a  volcano  (Papanday- 
ang)  which,  in  1772,  threw  out  ashes  and  cinders  so  as  to 
cover  the  earth  fifty  feet  deep  for  a  distance  of  seven  miles 
all  around  the  mountain,  thus  destroying  forty  villages  and 
twenty  thousand  people. 

4.  Sometimes  volcanoes  rise  from  the  sea.     This  hap- 
pened  in  1866,  near  the  Navigators*   Islands,  in  the 
Pacific.     Stones,  mud,  and  dust  were  thrown  up  2,000 
feet.  Some  of  the,  stones  going  down  met  others  coming  up 
with  a  terrible  crash.      For  half  a  mile  around  the  water 
was   in   terrible   commotion.      Heaps  of   dead  fish  were 
washed  ashore,  and  among   them  some  strange  monsters, 
from  six  to  ten  feet  long,  such  as  the  natives  had  never 
seen  before;  while  the  atmosphere  for  miles  around  was 
heated  and  filled  with  smoke,  ashes,  and  sulphurous  vapors. 

5.  North  of  Sicily  are  the  Lipari  (lip'a-re)  Islands. 
On  one  of  these  is  a  volcano  named  Stromboli  (strom'- 
bo-le),  which  has  given  out  lava  for  2,000  years,  and,  from 
its  constant  light,  has  been  called  the  light-house  of  the 
Mediterranean. 

6.  The  best-known  volcano  in  the  world  is 
Vesuvius,  which  is  in  Italy,  near  the  city  of 
Naples.     This  was  not  known  to  be  a  volcano 
until  the  year  79,  or  about  eighteen  centuries 
ago,   when    it   suddenly    burst    forth    and  sent 
out  such    an   immense   quantity  of  ashes  and 
cinders  as  to  overwhelm  two  cities  situated  near 
it    These  cities  were  named  Herculaneum  and 


234  Destruction  of  Pompeii  and  Herculaneum. 

Pompeii  (pom-pay'e).  Almost  all  their  inha- 
bitants managed  to  escape.  The  ashes  that  fell 
upon  Herculaneum  were  mixed  with  steam,  so 
that  the  moist  ashes  gradually  hardened  into 
stone. 

7.  Pompeii  was  covered  over  with  dry  ashes 
so   completely   that    nothing    could    be    seen 
of  it.      Thus   it   remained    buried   until    1748, 
when  it  was  accidentally  discovered.     Excava- 
tions were  then  commenced  and  have  conti- 
nued  to   the   present   day.      About   one-third 
of  the  city  has  been  uncovered,  and  you  can 
now  walk  along  the  streets  and  look  into  the 
houses,  and  see  exactly   how  people   lived    in 
those  days. 

8.  Vesuvius   frequently  pours  out  lava,  and 
travelers  often  stand  close  by  a  stream  of  lava 
flowing  from  it,  and  see  smoke  issuing  from  its 
crater. 

9.  A  story  is  told  of  a  Roman  soldier  who  was  guard- 
ing one  of  the  gates  of  that  ancient  city  at  the  time  it 
was  destroyed.     Although  the  people  rushed  wildly  p-ast 
him,  in   their   anxiety  to  escape   suffocation   and   death, 
he   stood    at    his    post,   and,   unfortunately,   having    no 
orders   to   leave  it,   he  remained  and  perished.      When 
the  great  heaps  of  ashes  were  carried    away  from   that 
part   of  the   city   nearly   seventeen   centuries    afterwards 
his  skeleton  was   found  on  the  spot,  with  his  weapons 
beside  it. 

10.  The  ruins  include  those  of  dwellings,  temples,  thea- 
tres, statues,  fountains,  etc. 


The  Great  Eruption  of  Vesuvius.     235 


XV.    THE  ERUPTION  OF  VESUVIUS. 

lELIGHTFULLY  situated  at  the  foot  of 
Vesuvius,  on  the  beautiful  Bay  of  Naples, 
were  the  two  cities  of  Pompeii  and  Hercula'- 
neum,  which,  at  the  height  of  Rome's  greatness, 
were  famous  resorts  of  Romans  of  wealth  and  rank. 
Beautiful  vineyards  and  gardens  covered  the  moun- 
tain slopes,  and  heathen  temples,  baths,  statues, 
fountains,  and  mosaic  pavements  adorned  the  towns. 
This,  the  first  recorded  eruption  of  the  mountain, 
lasted  eight  days  and  nights. 

2.  Pliny  the  younger,  a  Roman  author  of  that 
time,  described  the  sudden  appearance  of  a  cloud 
which  rose  in  the  afternoon  of  August  24,  A.  D.  79, 
over  Vesuvius,  shooting  upward  to  a  great  height 
and  spreading  at  the  top  like  a  pine  tree ;  then  the 
showers  of  ashes  and  cinders  which  filled  the  atmos- 
phere, producing  intense  darkness  that  continued 
three  days.  His  uncle,  the  elder  Pliny,  then  admiral 
of  the  fleet  near  by,  went  to  the  assistance  of  the 
people  on  shore.  Hot  cinders  fell  on  the  decks  of 
the  ships,  and  flames  were  raging  on  the  land. 

Here  Cicero,  the  great  Roman  orator,  statesman,  and  philosopher,  sought 
relief  from  the  midsummer  heats  of  the  Imperial  City  (Rome)  in  his  magnificent 
villa.  This  was  before  the  Christian  era.  Pompeii  previous  to  its  destruction 
was  surrounded  by  a  massive  stone  wall,  about  two  miles  in  length,  with 
towers  and  gates.  The  streets  were  narrow  (12  to  30  feet)  and  paved  with 
blocks  of  stone  (lava). 

The  earthquake  which  occurred  16  years  before  the  eruption  caused  consider- 
able damage  to  some  of  the  buildings,  now  visible  in  the  cracks  and  propped 
walls  of  the  uncovered  portion. 

The  dwellings,  which  were  generally  low,  small,  and  built  of  brick,  enclosed 
delightful  courtyards,  where  tropical  plants,  cool  fountains,  rich  vines,  and 
various  works  of  art,  gratified  the  luxurious  tastes  of  the  inhabitants,  who  were 
accustomed  to  pass  most  of  their  time  in  the  open  air. 


236  The  Last  Days  of  Pompeii. 

3.  Retreating  to  the  shore  in  the  intense  darkness, 
protected  with  pillows  on  their  heads,  they  found 
the  sea  too  tempestuous  for  them  to  embark.     The 
admiral    lay   down  exhausted    upon  a  sail  on   the 
shore,  and  his  companions  fled  before  the  sulph'ur- 
ous  flames.     Here  his  body  was  found  three  days 
afterward. 

4.  According  to  Bulwer,  the  immense  amphithe'- 
ater  of  Pompeii  was  crowded  with  people  to  witness 
cruel   sports — the   fighting    of  gladiators    and    the 
destruction  of  a  criminal  by  the  lion  and  the  tiger. 
These  horrible  performances  were  suddenly  arrested. 

I.  THE  LAST  DAYS  OF  POMPEII. 

|HE  eyes  of  the  crowd  beheld,  with  dismay, 
a  vast  vapor  shooting  from  the  summit l 
of  Vesuvius  in  the  form  of  a  gigantic 2  pine- 
tree  ;  the  trunk,  blackness — the  branches  fire ! — a  fire 
that  shifted  and  wavered  in  its  hues  with  every 
moment,  now  fiercely  luminous,  now  of  a  dull  and 
dying  red,  and  that  again  blazed  terrifically  forth 
with  intolerable  glare  ! 

2.  There  was  a  dead,  heart-sunken  silence  ;  through 
which  there  suddenly  broke  the  roar  of  the  lion, 
that  was  echoed  back  from  within  the  building  by 
the  sharper  and  fiercer  yells  of  its  fellow-beast. 
Dread  se'ers  were  they  of  the  Burden  of  the  Atmos- 
phere, and  wild  prophets  of  the  wrath  to  come  ! 

1  Sum'mit,  top.  *  QA%ax&\t,ji-ghan'tik. 

The  amphitheater,  situated  in  a  comer  of  the  city,  was  an  ellipse,  430  by  335 
feet  in  extent,  capable  of  seating  10,000  persons,  or  about  half  the  population  of 
the  city. 


Flight  of  the  People.  237 

3.  Then  there  arose  on  high  the  universal  shrieks 
of  women ;  the  men  stared  at  each  other,  but  were 
dumb.     At  that  moment  they  felt  the  earth  shake 
under  their  feet ;  the  walls  of  the  theater  trembled  ; 
and,  beyond  in  the  distance,  they  heard  the  crash 
of  falling  roofs ;  an  instant  more,  and  the  mountain 
cloud  seemed  to  roll  toward  them,  dark  and  rapid, 
like  a  torrent ;  at  the  same  time,  it  cast  forth  from 
its  bosom  a  shower  of  ashes  mixed  with  vast  frag- 
ments of  burning  stone ! 

4.  Over  the   crushing  vines,   over   the   desolate 
streets,  over  the  amphitheater  itself,  far  and  wide, 
with  many  a  mighty  splash  in  the  agitated  sea,  fell 
that  awful  shower ! 

5.  No  longer  thought  the  crowd  of  vengeance  or  of 
sport ;  safety  for  themselves  was  their  sole  thought. 
Each  turned  to  fly — each  dashing,  pressing,  crushing 
against  the  other.     Tramping  recklessly   over   the 
fallen,  amid  groans,  and  oaths,  and  prayers,  and  sud- 
den shrieks,  the  enormous  crowd  vomited  itself  forth 
through  the  numerous  passages. 

6.  Whither  should  they  fly !     Some,  anticipating 
a  second  earthquake,  hastened  to  their  homes    to 
load  themselves  with  their  more  costly  goods,  and 
escape  while  it  was  yet  time ;  others,  dreading  the 
showers  of  ashes  that  now  fell  fast,  torrent  upon  tor- 
rent, over  the  streets,  rushed  under  the  roofs  of  the 
nearest  houses,  or  temples,  or  sheds  (shelter  of  any 
kind),  for  protection  from  the  terrors  of  the  open 
air.     But   darker  and   larger   and   mightier  spread 
the  cloud  above  them.     It  was  a  sudden  and  more 
ghastly  night  rushing  upon  the  realm  of  noon ! 


238  Their  Flight — Darkness. 

7.  How   the    darkness   gathers !      What    sudden 
blazes  of  lightning !     How  they  dart  and  quiver ! 

8.  What    sound    is    that? — the    hissing    of    fiery 
water !     What !  does  the  cloud  give  rain  as  well  as 
flame? 

9.  Amid  the  other  horrors,  the  mighty  mountain 
now  cast  up  columns  of  boiling  water.     Blent  and 
kneaded  *  with  the  half-burning  ashes,  the  streams 
fell  like  seething  mud  over  the  streets  in  frequent 
intervals. 

10.  The  streets  were  already  thinned  ;  the  crowd 
had  hastened  to  disperse  itself  under  shelter;  the 
ashes  began  to  fill  up  the  lower  parts  of  the  town ; 
but,  here  and  there,  you  heard  the  weary  foot-steps 
of  fugitives,2  or  saw  the  pale  and  haggard  faces  by 
the  blue  glare  of  the  lightning,  or  the  more  unsteady 
glare  of  torches,  by  which  they  endeavored  to  steer 
their  steps.     But  ever  and  anon,  the  boiling  water, 
the  straggling  ashes,  or  mysterious  and  gusty  winds 
rising  and  dying  in  a  breath,  extinguished  these  wan- 
dering lights,  and  with  them  the  last  living  hope  of 
those  who  bore  them. 

11.  "Help    there!     Help!"    cried   a   frightened 
voice,  "  I  have  fallen  down — my  torch  has  gone  out 
— ten  thousand  sesterces  to  him  who  helps  me — oh, 
help   me,   give   me   thy   hand."     See! — they   have 
placed  a  light  within  yon  arch  at  the  gate ;  by  that 
let  us  guide  our  steps. 

1  Kneaded,  need'ed.       8  Fugitives,  fu/i-tivz.        8  Value  4  cents. 

Volcanic  lightnings.  These  phenomena  were  especially  characteristic  of 
the  long-subsequent  eruption  of  1799,  and  their  evidence  is  visible  in  the  tokens 
of  that  more  awful  one  here  described. 


The  Brave  Sentry.  239 

12.  The  air  became  still  fora  few  minutes;  the 
lamp  from  the  gate  streamed  out  far  and  clear ;  the 
fugitives  hurried  on — they  gained  the  gate — they 
passed  by  the  Roman  sentry ;  the  lightning  flashed 
over  his  liv'id  face  and  his  polished  hel'met,  but  his 
stern  features  were  composed  even  in  his  awe.  He 
remained  erect  and  motionless  at  his  post.  That 
hour  itself  had  not  animated  the  machine  of  the 
ruthless  majesty  of  Rome  into  the  reasoning  and 
self-acting  man.  There  he  stood,  amid  the  crashing 
elements ;  he  had  not  received  the  permission  to 
desert  his  station  and  escape. 

II.  FLAMES,  FALLING  ASHES,  AND  STONES. 

|HE  cloud,  which  had  scattered  so  deep  a 
murk'iness  over  the  day,  had  now  settled 
into  a  solid  and  impenetrable  mass.  It 
resembled  less  even  the  thickest  gloom  of  a  night 
in  the  open  air  than  the  close  and  blind  darkness 
of  some  narrow  room.  But  in  proportion  as  the 
blackness  gathered,  did  the  lightnings  around 
Vesuvius  increase  in  their  viv'id  and  scorching 
glare. 


A  large  building  has  been  uncovered,  which  is  supposed  to  have  been  the 
barracks  of  troops,  or  of  gladiators.  Numerous  implements  of  war  have  been 
collected  there,  and  in  and  around  the  building  were  found  64  skeletons,  prob- 
ably of  the  guard  who  remained  at  their  posts  unmoved  by  the  catastrophe — a 
remarkable  and  affecting  proof,  it  has  been  said,  of  the  discipline  of  the  Roman 
soldier. 

The  buried  city  of  Pompeii  v^as  discovered  by  accident,  in  digging  a  well. 

Numerous  statues,  vases,  bronzes,  and  mosaics  of  unsurpassed  magnificence, 
and  other  works  of  art  taken  from  the  ruins  since  the  discovery,  are  now  on 
exhibition  in  the  muse'um  at  Naples. 


240     Flames,  Falling  Ashes,  and  Stones. 

2.  Nor  was  their  horrible  beauty  confined  to  the 
usual  hues  of  fire  ;  no  rainbow  ever  ri'valed  their 
varying  dyes.    Now  brightly  blue  as  the  most  azure1 
depth  of  a  southern  sky — now  of  a  liv'id  and  snake- 
like  green,  darting  restlessly  to  and  fro  as  the  folds 
of  an  enormous  serpent — now  of  a  lu'rid  and  intol- 
erable crimson,  gushing  forth  through  the  columns 
of  smoke,  far  and  wide,  and  lighting  up  the  whole 
city  from  arch  to  arch — then  suddenly  dying  into  a 
sickly  paleness  ! 

3.  In  the  pauses  of  the  showers,  you  heard  the 
rumbling  of  fhe  earth  beneath    and   the  groaning 
waves  of  the  tortured  sea  ;  or,  lower  still,  and  audible 
but  to  the  watch  of  intensest  fear,  the  grinding  and 
hissing  murmur  of  the  escaping  gases  through  the 
chasms 2  of  the  distant  mountain. 

4.  Sometimes  the  cloud  appeared  to  break  from 
its  solid  mass,  and,  by  the  lightning,  to  assume  quaint 
and  vast  mimicries  of  human  or  of  monster  shapes, 
striding   across   the  gloom  hurtling  one  upon  the 
other,    and    vanishing    swiftly   into    the   tur'bulent 
abyss'  of  shade  ;  so  that,  to  the  eyes  and  fancies  of 
the  affrighted  wanderers,  the  unsubstantial  vapors 
were  as  the  bodily  forms  of  gigantic  foes — the  agents 
of  terror  and  death. 

5.  The  ashes  in  many  places  were  already  knee- 
deep  ;  and  the  boiling  showers  which  came  from  the 
steaming  breath  of  the  volcano  forced  their  way  into 
the  houses,  bearing  with  them  a  strong  and  suffo- 
cating vapor. 

1  Azure,  az'ure,  blue.  2  Chasms,  kdzms. 


The  Lights  Extinguished.  241 

6.  In   some  places,  immense  fragments  of  rock, 
hurled  upon  the  house  roofs,  bore  down  along  the 
streets  masses  of  confused  ruin  which,  yet  more  and 
more  with  every  hour,  obstructed  the  way ;  and  as 
the  day  advanced,  the  motion  of  the  earth  was  more 
sensibly  felt — the  footing  seemed  to  slide  and  creep 
— nor  could  chariot1  or  litter2  be  kept  steady,  even 
on  the  most  level  ground. 

7.  Sometimes  the  huger3  stones  striking  against 
each  other  as  they  fell,  broke  into  countless  frag- 
ments, emitting4  sparks  of  fire,  which  caught  what- 
ever was  combustible5  within  their  reach  ;  and  along 
the  plains  beyond  the  city  the  darkness  was  terri- 
bly relieved  ;  for  several  houses,  and  even  vineyards, 
had  caught  fire. 

8.  To  add  to  this  partial  relief  of  the  darkness,  the 
citizens  had,  here   and   there   in   the   more   public 
places,  such  as  the   porticos6  of  temples  and  the 
entrances  to  the  forum,7  endeavored  to  place  rows 
of  torches;  but   these   rarely  continued   long;  the 
showers  and  the  winds  extinguished  them,  and  the 
sudden  darkness  into  which  their  fitful8  light  was 
converted  had  something  in  it  doubly  terrible  and 
doubly   impressive   on    the   impotence9   of  human 
hopes,  the  lesson  of  despair. 

1  Chariot,  char'e-ot,  war  vehicle — a  carriage. 

2  Lifter,  a  bed  on  which  persons  are  carried. 

8  Huger,  huje-er,  larger.  *  Fo'rum,  meeting  place. 

4  E-mit'ting,  sending  out.  8  Fit' ful,  irregular. 

5  Com-bus/ti-ble,  easily  kindled.     9  Im'po-tence,  weakness. 
'  Porticos,  pot'te-koze,  spaces  enclosed  by  columns. 


242  Terrors  on  Sea  and  Land. 


III.  DARKNESS—  THE  SEA  RETREATS. 


by  the  momentary  light  of 
these  torches,  parties  of  fugitives  encoun- 
tered each  other,  some  hurrying  toward 
the  sea,  others  flying  from  the  sea  back  to  the  land, 
for  the  ocean  had  retreated  rapidly  from  the  shore. 
An  utter  darkness  lay  over  it,  and  upon  its  groaning 
and  tossing  waves,  the  storm  of  cinders  and  rocks 
fell  and  without  the  protection  which  the  streets  and 
roofs  afforded  on  the  land. 

2.  Wild,  haggard,  ghastly  with  supernatural  fears, 
these  groups  encountered  each  other,  but   without 
the  leisure1  to  speak,  consult,   or  advise;    for   the 
showers   fell  frequently,    though   not  continuously, 
extinguishing  the  lights,  which  showed  to  each  band 
the  death-like  faces  of  the  other,  and  hurrying  all  to 
seek  refuge  beneath  the  nearest  shelter. 

3.  All  the  elements  of  civilization  seemed  to  be 
broken  up. 

4.  Ever  and  anon,  by  the  flickering  lights,  you  saw 
the  thief  hastening  by  the  most  solemn  authorities 
of  the  law,  laden  with,  and  fearfully  chuckling2  over, 
the  produce3  of  his  sudden  gains. 

5.  If  in  the  darkness,  wife  was   separated   from 
husband,  or  parent  from  child,  vain  was  the  hope  of 
reunion.     Each  hurried  blindly  and  confusedly  on. 

1  Leisure,  Ifzhur,  freedom  from  occupation. 

*  Chuckling,  laughing  in  a  suppressed  manner. 

8  Produce,  prod'  use,  not  pro'doos,  proceeds. 


Explosions  —  Poisonous 

6.  The  groans  of  the  dying  were  broken  by  wild 
shrieks  of  women's  terror  —  now  near,  now  distant  — 
which,  when   heard  in  the  utter  darkness,  were  ren- 
dered doubly  appalling2  by  the  crushing  sense  of 
helplessness  and  the  uncertainty  of  the  perils  around. 

7.  Clear  and  distinct  through  all  were  the  mighty 
and   various  noises  from    the   Fatal   Mountain;  its 
rushing  winds  ;  its  whirling  torrents  ;  and,  from  time 
to  time,  the  burst  and  roar  of  some  more  fiery  and 
fierce  explosion. 

8.  Ever  as  the  winds  swept  howling   along  the 
street,  they  bore  sharp  streams  of  burning  dust,  and 
such  sickening  and  poisonous  vapors  as  took  away, 
for  the  instant,  breath  and  consciousness,  followed 
by  a  tingling  sensation  of  ag'ony,  trembling  through 
every  nerve  and  fi'ber  of  the  frame. 

9.  The  sea  had  retired  far  from  the  shore  ;  and  the 
people  who  had  fled  to  it  had  been  so  terrified  by 
the  agitation  and  preternat'ural  shrinking  of  the  ele- 
ment, the  gasping  forms  of  the  uncouth  2  sea-things 
which  the  waves  had  left  upon  the  sand,  and  by  the 
sound  of  the  huge  stones  cast  from  the  mountain  into 
the  deep,  that  they  had  retired  again  to  the  land,  as 
presenting  the  less  frightful  aspect  of  the  two. 

10.  A  wild  yell  burst  through  the  air  !     Thinking 
only  of  escape,  whither   it   knew  not,    the   terrible 
tiger   of  the  desert  leaped   among  the  throng  and 
hurried  through  its  parted  streams.     And  so  came 
the  earthquake  —  and  so  darkness  once  more  fell  over 
the  earth  ! 

1  Appalling,  ap-paul'ing.    .  s  Uncouth,  un~kooth'. 


244        The  End —  Two  Cities  Buried. 

11.  And  meekly,  softly,  beautifully,  dawned  at  last 
the  light  over  the  trembling  deep ! — the  winds  were 
sinking  into  rest — the  foam  died  from  the  glowing 
azure  of  that  now  beautiful  sea. 

12.  Around  the  east,  thin  mists  caught  gradually 
the  rosy  hues  that  her'alded  the  morning.     Light 
was  about  to  resume  her  reign. 

13.  Yet,  still,  dark  and  massive  in  the  distance, 
lay  the  broken  fragments  of  the  destroying  cloud, 
from  which  red  streaks,  burning  dimlier  and  dimlier, 
betrayed  the  yet  rolling  fires  of  the  mountain  of 
the  "  Scorched  Fields." 

14.  The  white  walls  and  gleaming  columns  that 
had  adorned  the  lovely  coasts  were  no  more.    Sullen 
and  dull  were  the  shores  so  lately  crested  by  the 
cities  of  Herculaneum  and  Pompeii. 

BULWER. 

SIR  EDWARD  BULWER  LYTTON  was  a  celebrated  English  writer, 
born  in  1805.  He  was  also  a  Member  of  Parliament  and  Rector 
of  the  University  of  Glasgow. 


What  is  a  volcano  ?  Where  are  most  volcanoes  ?  Of  what  advantages  are 
they  ?  What  celebrated  volcano  in  Italy  ?  Near  what  city  is  Vesuvius  ?  In 
what  year  was  its  first  recorded  eruption  ?  What  two  cities  were  destroyed 
and  covered  by  that  eruption  ? 

With  what  were  the  sides  and  base  of  that  volcano  covered  for  many  years 
previous  to  the  eruption  ?  Describe  the  streets. 

With  what  were  these  cities  covered  ?    How  were  they  discovered  ? 

What  celebrated  volcano  irt  South  America  ?  Cotop&xi.  Iceland  ?  Hecla. 
Sicily?  Etna. 

What  substance  used  in  the  manufacture  of  gunpowder  is  obtained  in  the 
craters  of  some  volcanoes  ? 

What  are  made  of  hardened  lava? 

What  is  pum'ice  stone  ? 

Each  pupil  may  write  a  letter  or  composition  about  volcanoes, 
and  give  in  his  or  her  own  language  a,  short  description  of  the 
destruction  of  the  city  of  Pompeii. 


Mountains ;    Their  Uses.  245 


XVI.    MOUNTAINS;  THEIR   USES, 

[ERE  it  not  for  the  great  swells  of  land,  the 
ridges  and  crests  of  rock,  the  wrinkles, 
curves,  and  writhings  of  the  strata,  how 
could  springs  of  water  be  formed  ?  What  drainage 
could  a  country  have?  How  could  the  rains  be 
hoarded  in  fountains  and  lakes?  Where  would  be 
the  store-houses  of  the  snow  and  hail  ? 

2.  "  Every  fountain  and  river,  from  the  inch-deep 
streamlet  that  crosses  the  village  lane  in  trembling 
clearness,  to  the  massy  and  silent  march  of  the  ever- 
lasting multitude  of  waters  in  the  Am'azon  or  the 
Ganges,  owe  their  play  and  purity  and  power  to  the 
ordained  elevations  of  the  earth." 

3.  The  richest  beauty  that  invests  the  mountains 
suggests  this  branch  of  their  utility.     The  mists  that 
scale   round    them,  above  which  their  cones  some- 
times float,  aerial1  islands  in  a  stagnant  sea;    the 
veils 2  of  rain  that  trail  along  them  ;  the  crystal  snow 
that  makes  the  light  twinkle  and  dance  ;  the  sombre 
thunder-heads  that  invest  them  with  Sinai  3-like  awe, 
are  all  connected  with  their  mission  as  the  hydraulic 4 
distributors  of  the  world, — the  mighty  troughs  that 
apportion  to  the  land  the  moisture  which  the  noiseless 

1  Aerial,  a-e're-al,  belonging  to  the  air. 
8  Veil,  vale. 

8  Sinai,  si'na-i,  a  mountain  mentioned  in  Scripture.     It  is  situ- 
ated in  Asia,  near  the  head  of  the  Red  Sea. 
4  Hydraulic,  hi-drau'lik,  relating  to  water-pipes. 


246     How  Mountains  Affect  Vegetation. 

so'lar  suction  is  ever  lifting  from  the  sea.  Their 
peaks  are  the  cradles,  their  furrows  the  first  play- 
ground of  the  great  rivers  of  the  earth. 

4.  It  is  an  equally  obvious  truth  that  mountain 
chains  diversify  climates.  By  their  condensing  effect 
upon  the  wet  sea-winds,  they  make  some  districts 
more  moist  than  others,  and  so  va'riegate  fertilities 
and  the  products  of  vegetation.  One  side  of  a 
mountain  ridge  receives  much  more  rain  than  the 
other.  For  days  together  the  valley  of  the  Po 1  is 
never  clouded,  because  the  Alps,  shrouded  in  dense 
fogs,  are  drawing  off  the  waters  from  the  wet  lands 
before  they  reach  the  Italian  plains.  And  the  Hima- 
layas2 force  the  summer  monsoons3  to  bring  out 
their  bounty  so  thoroughly  upon  their  southern  sides, 
that  the  steppes 4  of  inland  Asia  suffer  to  compen- 
sate 5  for  the  beauteous  rivers  and  rich  vegetation 
of  the  Indian  peninsula.6  The  Pacific  shore  under 
the  Andes7  is  very  dry  and  comparatively  barren, 
because  the  trade-winds  that  blow  across  and  enrich 
the  countries  of  the  Amazon  from  the  Atlantic,  are 
robbed  of  most  of  their  bounty  in  scaling  those  cold 
summits  from  the  east,  and  have  little  to  disburse 

1  Po,  the  largest  river  in  Italy. 

2  Himalaya,  him-a-la/a,  mountains  in  Asia,  the  highest  in  the 
world. 

8  Mon-soons",  winds  of  Southern  Asia  which  blow  from  S.  W. 
in  summer,  and  from  N.  E.  in  winter. 
4  Steppes,  steps,  vast  plains  of  Russia  and  Siberia. 

6  Com-pen'sate,  to  repay,  reward,  or  recompense. 

8  Peninsula,  pen-in' 'su-lah,  a  portion  of  land  almost  surrounded 
by  water.  Hindoostan'  is  called  the  India  Peninsula. 

7  Andes,  an'deez>  a  chain  of  mountains  in  South  America. 


A  Destructive  Earthquake.  247 

upon  the  western  slopes.  We  are  told  that  if  a 
mountain  system  could  be  upheaved  in  Sahara,  the 
hot  breezes  that  now  sweep  over  it  would  be  chilled 
and  compelled  to  disgorge  their  booty, — so  that 
the  wilderness,  sprinkled  with  rain  and  veined  with 
rivers,  would  in  time  "  blossom  as  the  rose."  As  to 
our  supply  of  water  and  our  irrigation,  we  must,  with 
David,  "  lift  up  our  eyes  to  the  hills,  from  whence 
cometh  our  help."  KlNG 

THOMAS  STARR  KING,  an  American  clergyman  and  lecturer,  was 
born  in  New  York  in  1824. 


THE   EARTHQUAKE   IN    SCIO. 

|N  the  afternoon  a  terrific  shock  was  felt, 
bringing  three-fourths  of  the  houses  in  the 
town  to  the  ground  like  so  many  packs  of 
cards,  and  burying  thousands  of  persons  under  the 
falling  ruins.  Then  commenced  a  fearful  scene  of 
horror.  The  ground  rocked  and  danced,  kneading 
the  ruin  already  formed  into  a  mass  of  stone. 

2.  The  survivors  ran  hither  and  thither,  not  know- 
ing where  to  flee  to  escape  the  horrible  fate  that 
menaced  them,  and  were  tossed  and  flung  about  by 
the  heaving  earth,  like  feathers  in  a  breeze. 

3.  On  every  side  the  rumblings  of  the  earth,  the 
noise  of  falling  buildings,  the  tearing  asunder  of  the 
walls  of  houses,  and  the  shrieks  of  the  wounded,  lent 
a  fearful  horror  to  the  scene.     All  sought  to  leave 
the  town  and  get  into  the  plains,  in  order  to  avoid 

Scio,  before  this  earthquake,  which  occurred  in  1881,  was  a  rich  and  beautiful 
island  belonging  to  Turkey,  west  of  Asia  Minor. 


248       Disasters  in  Town  and  Country. 

being  buried  under  the  falling  buildings,  but  even 
those  who  gained  the  open  country  were  by  no 
means  safe. 

4.  The  earthquake  attacked  not  only  the  towns 
and  villages,  but  worked  its  ravages  in  the  hills  and 
mountains  of  the  island.     Enormous  masses  of  rock 
and  earth  came  rushing  down  the  hillsides,  carrying 
all  before  them,  bounding  far  over  the  plains,  and 
tearing  roads  in  the  solid  mountain  such  as  might 
have  been  formed  by  a  torrent  a  thousand  years  old. 

5.  Great  fissures  and  crevices  yawned  in  the  streets, 
walls  were  falling  with  a  crashing  report,  and  entire 
buildings  crumbled  to  the  ground.     Mosques,  min'- 
arets,  and  the  government  palace  became  tottering 
ruins.    In  many  places  whole  streets  had  disappeared. 
No  one  knew  where  to  look  for  family  or  friends. 
The  ground  still  heaved  and  tossed,  bringing  fresh 
buildings  to  the  ground  at  every  moment. 

6.  Parents  wandered  from  place  to  place  seeking 
their  children  and  endeavoring  to  persuade  them- 
selves that  their  darlings  would  be  found  among  the 
living.     In  an  instant  an  entire  village,  built  on  the 
side  of  a  hill,  broke  bodily  away  from  the  parent 
rock,  and  rushed  crashing  down  into  the  plain. 

7.  The  scene  is  sickening.     Here  a  hand  makes 
feeble  signs  through  a  crev'ice,  while  the  unfortunate 
wretch  to  whom  it  belongs  is  buried  beneath  tons  of 
masonry.     There  a  voice  calls  for  aid  from  under- 
ground.    A  daughter  sobbing  endeavors  to  encour- 
age her  father,  who  is  imprisoned   deep  below  the 
surface  ;  and  at  every  turn  of  the  spade  or  pick  some 
horribly  mutilated  corpse  is  brought  to  light. 


About  Birds —  The  Eagle. 


Blackboard  Drawing.    American  Eagle.    Height,  3  feet;  width 
of  outspread  wings,  8  feet. 


XVII.    ABOUT   BIRDS. 

1.  Here  is  a  bird  which  can  rise  in  the  air  as 
high  as  any  balloon,  and  can  steer  itself  so  as  to 
go  whither  it  wishes,  which   is  more  than   the 
man  in  the  balloon  can  do.     For  this  purpose  it 
is  contrived  with  wonderful  wisdom.     Number- 
less air-cells  are  distributed  throughout  its  body, 
extending  even  into  its  bones.     These  air-cells 
the  bird  can  fill  at  pleasure,  and  thus  rise  more 
easily  in  the  air,  or   it   can  empty   them  and 
make  itself  heavier,  so  as  to  descend  more  rap- 
idly  upon   its  prey.     Its   feathers   are    models 
of  strength  and  lightness.     It  is  an  American 
eagle. 

2.  The  EAGLE  is  a  bird  of  prey — that  is,  it 
procures  its  food  by  violence  or  robbery,  seizing 
not  only  other  birds  but  also  young  fawns,  rac- 
coons, rabbits,  wild  turkeys,  etc.     Its  height  or 


250       Birds  of  Prey — Eagle — Condor. 

length   is  about  three  feet.     Some  eagles  have 
been  known  to  live  more  than  a  hundred  years. 

3.  The  EAGLE  is  noted  for  its  great  strength 
and  endurance,  and  it  has  been  accepted  as  an 
emblem  of  the  United  States,  also  of  Prussia, 
Austria,  and  other  great  nations. 

4.  Although  eagles  have  been  reported  to  be 
very  fierce,  and  as  having  carried  off  young  chil- 
dren, yet  they  have  not  always  shown  as  much 
bravery  and  courage  as  some  smaller  birds. 

5.  On  account  of  the  eagle's  cowardice  and  tyranny 
Benjamin  Franklin  lamented  that  it  should  have  been  se- 
lected as  the  emblem  of  this  country. 

6.  The  young  eagles,  called  eaglets,  are  driven  from 
their  eyrie  (a're),  or  nest,  by  the  old  ones,  so  soon  as  they 
are  able  to  provide  for  themselves. 


Head  and  Bill  of  Humming-Bird,  1  inch  long-;  of  Eagle,  10 
inches;  of  Condor,  10  inches— all  to  be  drawn  on  the  black- 
board full  size. 

7.  The  largest  bird  of  flight  is  the  CONDOR, 
which  has  its  home  in  the  Andes  Mountains. 
It  lives  in  the  highest  and  loneliest  places,  and, 
like  the  eagle,  it  is  a  bird  of  prey.  Two  of 


Condor —  Owl. 


251 


them,  driven  by  hunger,  do  not  hesitate  to  at- 
tack a  horse,  or  a  bull,  or  other  large  animal, 
which  they  tear  to  pieces  with  their  strong, 
sharp  beaks  and  talons  (claws)  ;  and  when  they 

have  killed  it  they  so 
gorge  themselves  with  its 
flesh  that  they  are  unable 
to  fly.  Men  who  wish 
to  capture  them  take  ad- 
vantage of  this  greedi- 
ness, and  leave  the  dead 
body  of  a  horse  or  other 
animal  on  the  field  until 
the  condor  has  eaten  so 
much  as  to  become  help- 
less. Its  height  is  about 
four  feet. 

8.  Humboldt,  a  celebrated 
German  naturalist  and  travel- 
ler, once  noticed  a  condor  fly- 
ing over  the  summit  of  Chim- 
borazo  (Chim-bo-rah'zo),  a 
mountain  in  South  America 
more  than  four  miles  high. 
Humboldt  made  very  important  explorations  in  the  Old 
World,  also  in  Mexico,  the  West  Indies,  the  United 
States  of  Colombia,  Ecuador,  and  Peru. 

9.  The  OWL  is  remarkable  for  its  large,  round 
eyes,  feathered  ears,  and  fear  of  daylight.  It  flies 
about  and  seeks  its  food  in  the  night-time,  de- 


Blackboard  Drawing. 
Barn  Owl.    Height  15  inches. 


252     Sizes  of  Birds — Hawk — Humming-bird. 

vouring  mice,  birds,  moles,  young  rabbits,  etc. 
It  builds  in  caves,  old  walls,  towers,  etc.  There 
are  more  than  a  hundred  species. 

10.  The  OSPREY,  or   FISH-HAWK,  is  said  to 
be  able  to  carry  a  fish  of  its  own  weight,  but 
the  eagle,  when  he  sees  the  osprey  carrying  off 
a   fish,  pounces  upon  him,  and,  forcing  him  to 
let  go,  swoops  down  with  wonderful  swiftness, 
catching  the  falling  fish  before  it  can  touch  the 
water. 

11.  The    birds    of  prey    include    the    eagle,    condor, 
vulture,    falcon    (faw'kti),    hawk, 

and  owl.  Their  characteristics 
are  strength,  hooked  bill,  strong, 
sharp  talons,  fierce  look,  and  keen 
scent. 

12.  The  FALCON  obtains  its  prey  while  it  is 
flying.     It  is  trained  to  capture  other  birds.     Its    7 
home  is  in  Europe  and  America. 

13.  Birds  vary  in  size,  from  the  huge  condor, 
that  has  a  body  four  feet  long,  and  wings  which 
sometimes  spread  out  fourteen  feet  in  width,  to 
the    little   humming-bird,  which    is   no't   much 
larger  than  a  big  beetle. 

14.  The  HUMMING-BIRD    is    small   and  very 
beautiful.     It   is   remarkable  for   its   long  bill, 
which    reaches   honey   and   insects    inside    of 
flowers,  for  its  feathers  of  rich  green,  red,  purple, 
and  brown,  and  for  the   quick  motions   of  its 
wings,  which  cause  the  humming  sound.     Like 


Weaver-birds — Oriole.  253 

most  other  beautiful  birds,  they  are  more  nume- 
rous in  Brazil  and  other  warm  countries  of 
South  America  than  in  the  United  States. 
There  are  about  four  hundred  species  of  hum- 
ming-birds. 

15.  Audubon,  the  celebrated   American   ornithologist, 
in  describing  the  humming-bird,  called  it  the  **  glittering 
fragment  of  the  rainbow." 

1 6.  There  is  a  bird  that  knows  how  to  sew,  and 
is  therefore    called   the  tailor-bird.      He  sews 

leaves  together  and  thus 
forms  his  nest.  Others 
take  long  grass  or  any 
other  fibrous  material,  and 
weave  it  into  a  kind  of 
coarse  cloth,  of  which 
they  make  their  nests. 

17.  We    have   one   of 
these    weaver-birds     in 
our  country.     It  is  called 
the   BALTIMORE   ORIOLE, 
a  beautiful    bird  covered 
with   orange    and    black 
feathers. 

1 8.  This   nest,  as  you 
see,    (referring  to    the 
drawing    on    the    black- 
Blackboard  drawing  of  Baiti-  board),      is     not     only 

more  Oriole.    Full  length  of  ,  Al 

bird.  7K,  inches,  strongly  woven  together, 


254     Plasterer  Birds — Chimney -swallow. 

but  kept  from  swaying  too  violently  in  the 
wind  by  cords  that  brace  it  in  different  direc- 
tions. 

19.  The  Baltimore  oriole  spends  the  winter  in  Mexico, 
Central  America,  and  the  West  Indies,  and  returns  north 
in  the  spring,  flying  all  day  and  resting  at  night.     It  is 
known  as  far  north  as  the  New  England  States,  and  is 
sometimes   called   the   "  fire-bird,"   from    its    color,   also 
"hang  bird"  and  "  golden  robin." 

20.  Some  birds  are  good  plasterers,  and  fix 
their  nests  with  mud  or  clay  very  neatly  and  se- 
curely in  any  favorable  place.     Some  are  so  skil- 
ful as   to  make    them  adhere  securely   to  the 
smooth  surface  of  glass. 

21.  Our    common    CHIMNEY-SWALLOW  is    a 
very  good  plasterer. 

22.  He  has,  besides,  a  very  curious  arrangement  in  his 
head.     There  are  two  glands  or  bags  in  the  back  part  of  it, 
which  are  filled  with  liquid  glue.     After  he  has  made  a  shelf 
of  mud  or  clay  he  makes  his  nest  of  tender  twigs,  interlacing 
them  and  joining  their  ends  smoothly  together  by  means 
of  this  liquid  glue,  so  that  no  rough  ends  may  stick  out  on 
the  inside.    After  being  lined  with  feathers  or  any  other  soft 
material  and  securely  plastered  around  on  the  outside,  it  is 
ready  for  the  eggs. 

23.  Cuvier   was  one    of  the    greatest  naturalists    that 
eyer  lived.     His  attention  was  first  called  to  this  study  by 
some  of  these  plasterers.     When  quite  a  young  man  he 
went  one  summer  to  spend  his  vacation  in  a  little   place 
near  the  sea.     Just  outside  of  his  window  two   swallows 
had  built  their  nest.     One  day  a  strange  bird  came  and 
took  possession  of  the  nest,  opposing  its  sharp  beak  to  the 


Ingenuity  of  Birds.  255 

mother-bird  when  she  came  home.      She  and  her  mate 
chattered  together  for  some  time,  and  then  flew  away. 

24.  They  came  back  soon,  however,  with  a  great  many 
others.     They  chattered   together   for  a  little  while,  and 
then  flew  away  again. 

25.  Presently   they   all   reappeared,   flying  in   a   long 
file,  one  after   the  other,  each   bearing  some  mud  in  its 
claws.     They  flew  close  to  the  nest,  where  sat  the  strange 
bird  in  impudent  security,  and,  as  they  passed,  each  threw 
the  mud  he  carried  directly  into  the  face  of  the  intruder, 
which  was  thus  killed  and  buried  in  the  very  place  of  his 
crime — the  nest  he  had  stolen. 

26.  From  that  moment  Cuvier  devoted  himelf  to  the 
study  of  birds,  fishes,  insects,  quadrupeds,  and  other  ani- 
mals, and  became  distinguished  for  his  knowledge  of  natu- 
ral history. 

27.  There  are  other  birds  which  may  be  called 
miners,  for  they  dig  holes  in  the  earth  and  make 
their  nests  at  the  end  of  these  holes. 

28.  Such  are  the  SAND  MARTINS,  which  dig  in 
a  dry  sand-bank  horizontal  galleries,  at  the  ends 
of  which  they  have  their  comfortable  nests.  They 
fly  about  in  small  flocks,  and  seem  to  make  very 
pleasant  and  sociable  little  communities. 

29.  These  things  show  that  birds,  though  their  heads 
are  small,  must  have  brains. 

30.  It  is  said  by  some  naturalists  that  the  CANARY-BIRD 
has  a  larger  brain  in  proportion  to  the  size  of  its  body  than 
any  other  living  creature ;  however,  it  is  wonderful  to  see 
these  bright  little  birds,  after  only  a  fortnight's  training, 
act  before  an  audience,  fight  mimic  battles  and  duels,  fire 
cannons,  fall  down  as  if  shot,  and,  feigning  death,  be  car- 
ried off  by  their  companions  with  astonishing  composure. 


256  Cormorant —  Toucan — Bird-of- Paradise. 


Cormorant,  length  3  feet ;  Toucan,  17  inches  long,  its  bill,  9  in- 
ches; Bird-of- Paradise,  head  and  body  together,  12  inches  in 
length ;  its  tail-feathers,  24  inches.  Draw  full  size. 

3 1.  The  birds  trained  by  the  Chinese  to  catch 
fish  for  their  masters  are  called  CORMORANTS. 

32.  Like  the  duck,  goose,  and  swan,  the  cor- 
morant has  webbed  feet  and  short  legs.     He  is 
a  very  expert  diver  and  swimmer,  making  use 
not  only  of  his  feet  but  also  of  his  wings  under 
the  water. 

33.  The  TOUCAN  (too'kan)  is  remarkable  for 
its  large  orange-red  bill,  which  is  more  than  half 
as  long  as  its  body. 

34.  The  feathers  of  its  back  and  wings  are 
mostly  black,  and  of  its  throat,  white.     It  builds 
in  the  holes  of  trees,  and  feeds  on  fruits,  small 
birds,  reptiles,  and  insects. 

35.  Unlike  eagles  and  condors,  which  live  in 
pairs,  the  toucans  live  in  flocks. 

36.  They  are  numerous  in  Brazil  and  other 
warm  parts  of  South  America. 

37.  The  BIRD-OF-PARADISE,  from  which  long, 
beautiful    feathers    of    brilliant    colors — green, 


Movements  of  Birds. 


257 


yellow,  red,  and  purple — are  obtained  for  ladies' 
hats,  is  a  native  of  the  island  of  Papua  (/#/'- 
oo-a),  or  New  Guinea.  It  is  found  also  on 
Celebes  (sel'e-bees),  the  Philippine  (fil'ip- 
pin),  and  other  islands  southeast  of  Asia.  It 
is  about  as  large  as  a  pigeon,  and  feeds  on  seeds, 
grasshoppers,  etc. 

38.  Other  birds  which  are  remarkable   for  the  length 
and  beauty  of  their  tails  are  the  LYRE-BIRD  of  Australia 
and  the  TROGAN  of  the  Torrid  Zone. 

39.  The     rapidity 
with  which  birds  can 
move    through    the 
air    is     astonishing. 
Few    persons     have 
any  idea  of  the  force 
expended  in  the  ac- 

c  a  •     i   , 

tion  of  night. 


40.  Some  birds  fly 

so  rapidly  that  the  strokes  of 
the  wing  cannot  be  counted. 
The  wings  of  the  humming- 
bird when  in  motion  cannot 
even  be  seen. 

41.  Let   any    one  try  to 
count  the  strokes  of  the  wing 

of  a  pigeon  or  of  the  diving  Birds  ****** a  nest' 
sea-fowl,  and  he  will  find  that  it  is  utterly  im- 
possible. 


258  Carrier-pigeon —  Ostrich. 

42.  Still  more  astonishing  is  the   wonderful 
power  possessed  by  some  birds  of  finding  their 
way  through  the  pathless  air,  with  no  apparent 
means  of  guiding  their  course.     This  has  been 
turned  to  account  by  man  in  the  case  of  the 
CARRIER-PIGEONS,  which  are  used  in  carrying  let- 
ters to  distant  places. 

43.  When  Paris  was  besieged  by  the  Germans  in  1870, 
a  great  many  letters  were  carried  to  and  fro  by  these  birds. 

44.  Their  general  rate  of  flight  does  not  usually  exceed 
thirty  miles  per  hour. 

45.  Some  carrier-pigeons  were  let  loose  at  Scranton,  in 
Pennsylvania,  in  1878,  and  they  alighted  on  the  coop  of 
their  owner  in  the  city  of  New  York,  after  flying  a  dis- 
tance of  one  hundred  and  six  miles,  in  about  three  hours. 

46.  PIGEON-HAWKS  must,  of  course,  fly  faster 
than  pigeons  so  as  to  catch  them,  and  they  are 
sometimes  trained  for  that  purpose,  so  that  the 
letters  carried  by  the  carrier-pigeons  may  come 
into  the   possession  of  those   for  whom  they 
were  not  intended. 

47.  Some   birds,  on    the     other 
hand,  cannot  fly  at  all.    In  this  case 
their  bones  are  as  solid  as  ours.  One 
of  these,  the  OSTRICH,  is  the  tallest 
of  living    birds,   being    sometimes 
eight  to  ten  feet  high,  and  weigh- 
ing from  fifty  to  one  hundred  pounds,    ostriches. 

48.  They  furnish  us  with  very  beautiful  feath- 
ers.   These  are    so    valuable   that    men  have 


Cassowary — Emu — Mound-bird.       259 

caught  and  tamed  the  ostriches,  and  you  may 
now  see  in  South  Africa  ostrich  farms  where 
these  birds  are  reared. 

49.  There  is  an  ostrich  found  in  South  Ameri- 
ca, but  it  is  smaller  than  the  African  ostrich.     It 
is  called  the   RHEA.     Its  feathers  are  so  much 
less   beautiful   that,  in   place   of  adorning   the 
heads  of  our  ladies,  they  are  made  into  feather 
dusters. 

50.  During  the  day  the  heat  of  the  sun  aids  in  hatching 
the  eggs  of  the  African  ostrich,  but  at  night  the  male  bird 
sits  on  the  nest  so  as  to  protect  the  eggs  from  all  assaults, ' 
and  if  attacked  by  a  wild  animal  it  will  kill  it  by  a  kick. 
One  of  these  eggs  will  weigh  from  two  to  three  pounds, 
and  is  equal  to  about  twenty-four  such  eggs  as  you  some- 
times have  for  breakfast. 

51.  The    CAS'SO-WA-RY   of    Eastern    Asia    and    the 
E'MU  of    Australia  resemble  the  ostrich  very  much,  but 
are  not  so  large.     They  are  very  swift  runners.     The  os- 
trich when  pursued  runs  about  thirty  miles  an  hour,  and  is 
only  captured  by  Arabs  on  swift  horses  after  a  chase  of 
several  hours. 

52.  Some  eagles,  hawks,  and   crows   are   so 
cunning  as  to  have  found  out  that  a  turtle  or  a 
clam,  no  matter  how  closely  shut  up,  may  be 
opened   by  being  carried  up  high  into  the  air 
and  then  let  fall  upon  a  rock. 

53.  The  MOUND-BIRDS,  that  live  in  Australia,  are  cun- 
ning enough  to   have   found   out  that   fermenting   vege- 
table matter  gives  out  heat  enough  to  hatch  eggs;   so, 
after  scraping  up  grass  and   weeds  in   their  claws,  they 
throw  them  together  so  as  to  make  a  huge  heap  or  mound, 


260 


Usefulness  of  Birds. 


sometimes  seven  feet  high  and  twenty  feet  across.  The 
heat  of  the  interior  of  this  is  said  to  reach  sometimes 
ninety-five  degrees. 

54.  In  this  mound  the  birds  make  holes,  in  which  they 
deposit  their  eggs,  and  leave  them  there  to  be  hatched  out 
by  this  internal  heat. 

55.  Our  domestic  fowls,  as  well  as  many  other  birds, 
supply  us  with  food.      Others  supply  us  with  feathers  for 
our  pillows ;  others  give  us  pens  to  write  with.     In  some 
places  men  train  hawks  to  catch  other  birds  for  them,  and 

some  large  hawks  are  trained 
to  kill  even  gazelles  and  small 
deer. 

56.  Birds  also  give  men  much 
amusement     by     (he     various 
tricks    they   are    taught.     Par- 
rots and  some  other  birds  can 
be  taught  to  pronounce  words, 
and   can    be   made    to   repeat 
whole  sentences  so  naturally  as 
to   startle  and    surprise    those 
people  who  hear  them. 

57.  Birds  are  very  use- 
ful to  us,  not  only  for  food 
and  their  beautiful  feath- 

Parrot.  ers>  but  also  for  destroy- 

ing insects  which  would  do  great  damage  to 
trees  and  plants.  They  also  devour  snakes, 
lizards,  etc. 

58.  The  SERPENT  BIRD  of  Africa  will  attack  a  large 
snake,  making  use  of  one  of  his  strong  wings  as  a  shield 
and  of  the  other  as  a  weapon,  with  which  he  inflicts  blow 
after  blow  until  the  reptile  is  overcome. 


Woodpecker — Pelican. 


Blackboard  Drawing:  White  Pelican;  full  length,  5  feet;  bill, 
14  inches  long-;  pouch,  7  inches  deep.  Woodpecker;  full 
length,  15  inches. 

59.  The   WOODPECKER   appears   to   have   a 
hard  life  when  compared  with  that  of  birds 
which  easily  find  their  food  on  the  ground,  in 
the  water,  or  among  the  leaves  of  the  trees ; 
for  the  worms  and  insects  upon  which  he  lives 
are  hidden  away  in  the  trunks  of  trees.     To 
get  them  he  must  tear  away  the  bark  and  per- 
haps bore  or  drill  deep  holes  in  the  hard  wood. 
This  he  does  with  his  long,  strong  bill,  much 
faster  than  any  of  you  could  do  it  with  a  sharp 
knife. 

60.  The  Woodpecker  runs  up  and  around  the  trunk  of 
a  tree,  tapping  with  his  bill  as  he  goes,  and  when  he  hears 
a  hollow  sound,  he  knows  a  worm  is  there. 

61.  Some  Woodpeckers  also  bore  large  holes  in  trees 
in  which  to  build  their  nests. 

62.  The  PELICAN  is  remarkable  for  the  great 
pouch  or  sack  which  is  under  its  long  bill  and 


262 


The  Heron. 


which  serves  as  a  kind 
of  scoop-net.  This  pouch 
will  hold  fish  sufficient 
for  the  dinner  of  six  men. 

63.  Pelicans  are  expert  fish- 
ers.     A  number  of  them  will 
surround  a  shoal  of  fishes  and, 
gradually  swimming  closer  to- 
gether, drive  them  into  shallow 
water,  where  they  devour  them 
in  large   quantities.      Having 
webbed  feet,  they  are  excellent 
swimmers. 

64.  They  feed  their  young 
with  food  which  they  had  swal- 
lowed, and  which  they  have  the 
power  of  raising  to  their  bills. 

65.  Pelicans  are   found   in 
Florida,  California  and  other 
parts  of  North  America;  also 
in  Asia,  Africa  and  Southeast- 
ern Europe.     Some  are  white,  and  others  brown. 

66.  Another  excellent  fisher  is  the  HERON. 
It  is  remarkable  for  its  long,  curved  neck,  long 
bill,  and  long,  straight  legs,  which  are  admirably 
adapted  to  its  mode  of  life.     Its  feet  are  not 
webbed  and,  consequently,  it  is  not  a  swimmer. 

67.  Its  home  is  near  swamps.     Its  food  consists  of 
fish,  frogs,  etc.,  which  it  catches  by  watching  in  dark, 
lonely  spots.     In  this  respect  it  differs  from  the  Pelican, 
Gull,  Petrel  and  Ibis,  which  are  very  active. 


Blackboard  Drawing-:   Her- 
on; full  height,  3%  feet. 


flamingo — Stork.  263 

68.  Another  very  tall  bird  similar  in  shape  to 
the  Heron  is  the  RED  FLAMINGO.    It  is  a  swim- 
mer and  wader.     With  its  webbed  feet  it  digs 
in  the  mud  for  worms,  insects,  and  small  fishes. 

69.  It  is  found  in  the  marshes,  lakes,  and  rivers  of 
Asia,  Africa,  and  the  warm  parts  of  Europe.     It  is  about 
as  tall  as  a  man. 

70.  The  WHITE  STORK  is  also  a  long-legged 
wader.     It  is  noted  for  its  intelligence  and  is 
very  observing,  readily  judging  of  the  feelings 
entertained  toward  it  by  the  people  on  whose 
house-tops  or  chimney-tops  it  wishes  to  build 
its  great,  rough  nest. 

71.  In  Holland  and  Germany,  which  Storks  visit 
every  year,  some  of  these  birds  become  very  tame  and 
play  with  the  children  in  the  streets.     Their  feet  are  not 
webbed.     Are  Storks  swimmers  ?     You  will  observe  that 
all  birds  which  have  webbed  feed  are  good  swimmers,  but 
very  clumsy  walkers,  as  the  Goose,  Swan  and  Duck. 

72.  When  the  time  arrives  for  Storks  to  leave  their  nests 
and  migrate,  they  have  been  known  to  kill  their  sick ;  but, 
on  the  other  hand,  they  are  generally  kind  to  each  other, 
and  the  young  have  been  noticed  to  watch  anxiously  over 
the  aged  and  helpless  of  their  kind,  bringing  them  food 
and  otherwise  tenderly  caring  for  them. 

73.  The  Stork  passes  the  winter  in  Egypt,  where,  like 
the  VULTURE,  another  large  bird,  it  feeds  on  garbage,  car- 
rion and  other  such  substances,  thus  preventing  the  spread 
of  disease  among  the   people  who   are  too   indolent  to 
cleanse  their  streets.     It  is  about  as  tall  as  a  boy  nine 
years  of  age — four  feet. 


264  Crane — Swan — Kingfisher. 

74.  The  CRANE   is   another  long-necked,  long-legged 
bird,  very  active,  graceful,  and  intelligent.    Like  the  Stork, 
it  spends  its  winters  in  Egypt  and  other  warm  countries 
and  its  summers  further  north.     Its  food  is  fish,  frogs,  and 
vegetables. 

75.  The  SWAN,  which  has  a  long  neck  and  short  legs, 

is  considered  the  most  grace- 
ful of  swimmers.  Both  father 
and  mother  carry  their  young 
on  their  backs  and  shelter 
them  under  their  wings  ;  and, 
should  the  safety  of  their  brood 
be  threatened,  they  do  not 
hesitate  to  attack  man,  horse, 
fox,  dog,  or  any  other  aggres- 
sor. 

76.  Swans  bf  long  to  Europe, 
Asia  and  North  America ;  their 
food  consists  chiefly  of  the 
roots  and  bulbs  of  water  plants. 
It  is  said  that  some  Swans  live 
as  long  as  an  Elephant — one 
hundred  years. 

77.  The  KINGFISHER, 
like  the    Gull,   pounces 
Blackboard  Drawing:  King-    upon  its  prey  at  the  sur- 

fisher;  length,  12  inches.         face    Qf    the    water .     but 

unlike  it,  it  sits  alone  on  a  branch  which  over- 
hangs the  water,  while  the  Gull  and  the  Stormy 
Petrel  skim  rapidly  and  almost  unceasingly 
over  the  water  in  search  of  their  food 


Blackboard  Drawing :  Snipe  and  Common  Quail;  height  of  each 
about  9  inches. 

78.  The  SNIPE,  a  much  smaller  bird  than  the 
Heron,  has  long  legs  and  a  long,  slender  bill, 
which  are  admirably  adapted  to  procuring  its 
food — insects  and  worms  on  coasts  and  marshes. 

79.  The  Snipe  belongs  chiefly  to  North  America  and 
Europe.     Included  in  this  family  are  the  WOODCOCK  and 
PLOVER,  which   are  highly  prized   by  sportsmen.      The 
PENGUIN  of  the  Antarctic  Regions,  and  the  PUFFIN  and 
AUK  of  the  Arctic  Regions  sit  upright  when  on  shore. 

80.  The  QUAIL  has  a  short  bill  and  feeds  on 
grain,  seeds,  berries  and  insects,  which  it  finds 
on  the  ground.      It  flies  low  and  only  when 
startled  lights  upon  trees. 

81.  Quails  pass  the  night  on  the  ground,  all  huddled 
together  in  a  circle,  with  their  heads  outward,  the  better 
to  listen  and  fly  if  danger  approaches. 

82.  Similar  to  the  Quail  are  the  Partridge,  Pheasant, 
and  Grouse ;  indeed,  these  names  are  sometimes  applied 
indiscriminately  to  the  same  kind  of  bird. 


266  The  Beautiful  Heron. 

XVIII.     RAMBLES   AMONG  BIRDS. 


I.  WARNING  NOTES — THE  HERON. 

|D WARD  1  had  entered  a  narrow  glen.  He 
was  listening  to  the  voice  of  the  cuckoo, 
and  the  clap-clap  of  the  ring-pigeons,  which 
rose  in  great  numbers,  when  an  abrupt  turn  of  the 
road  brought  him,  suddenly  and  unexpectedly,  within 
a  few  yards  of  a  beautiful  her'on. 

2.  "  I   immediately  stood  still,"  he  says.     "  The 
upright  and  motionless  attitude  of  the  bird  indicated 
plainly  that  he  had  been  taken  by  surprise ;  and  for 
the  moment  he  seemed,  as  it  were,  stunned  and  in- 
capable of  flight.     There  he  remained,  as  if  fastened 
to  the  spot,  his  bright  yellow  eye  staring  me  full  in 
the   face,  and  with   an   expression   that  seemed  to 
inquire  what  right   I  had  to  intrude  into  solitudes 
where  the  human  form  is  so  rarely  seen. 

3.  "As  we  were  thus  gazing  at  each  other,  in  mutual 
surprise  at  having  met  in  such  a  place,  I  observed 
his  long  slender  neck  quietly  and  gradually  doubling 
down  upon   his  breast.     His  dark  and  lengthened 
plumes  were  at  the  same  time  slightly  shaken. 

4.  "  I  knew  by  this   that  he   was  about  to  rise ; 
another   moment,  and  he   was  up.     Stretching  his 
long  legs  behind  him,  he  uttered  a  scream  so  dismal, 
wild,  and  loud  that  the  very  glen  and  hills  re-echoed 
the  sound,  and  the  whole  scene  was  instantly  filled 
with  clamor. 

1  A  Scotch  Naturalist. 


Ma  ternal  Affection.  267 

5.  "The  sandpiper  screamed  its  kittie-needie ;  the 
pigeon  cooed ;  the  pip'it,  with  lively  emotion,  came 
flying  round  me,  uttering  all  the  while  its  peeping 
note ;    the  meadow-hen   sprung   up   with   whirring 
wing  from  her  heath  lair,  and  gave  forth  her  well- 
known  and  indignant  birr  birr-bick  ;  the  curlew  came 
sailing  down  the  glen  with  steady  flight,  and  added 
to  the  noise  with  his  shrill  and  peculiar  notes  of  poo- 
elie  poo-elie  coorlie  coorlie  wha-up;    and,  from   the 
loftier  parts  of  the  hills,  the  plovers  ceased  not  their 
mournful  wail,  which  accorded  so  well  with  the  scene 
of  which  I  alone  appeared  to  be  a  silent  spectator. 

6.  "  I  moved  not  a  foot  until  the  alarmed  inmates 
of  the  glen  and  the  mountain  had  disappeared,  and 
solemn  stillness  had  again  resumed  its  sway." 

II.  AFFECTION  OF  BIRDS— THE  WILD  DUCK. 

|N  the  following  day,  I  observed  a  curlew  rise 
from  a  marshy  part  of  the  hill,  to  which  I 
bent  my  steps  in  hopes  of  finding  her  nest. 

2.  In  this,  however,  I    was  disappointed  ;  but    I 
came  upon  a  wild  duck  lying  beside  a  tuft  of  rushes. 

3.  It  may  be  mentioned  that  there  had  been  a 
heavy  snow-storm,  which  had  forced  the  plovers  and 
wild  ducks  to  abandon  their  nests,  though  then  full 
of  eggs. 

4.  As  I  imagined  she  was  skulking  with  a  view  to 
avoid  observation,  I  touched  her  with  my  stick,  in 
order  that  she  might  rise  ;  but  she  rose  not. 

1  Sand'pi-per,  a  wading  bird  resembling  a  snipe. 


268  Ma  terna  I  Affection. 

5.  I  was  surprised,  and  on  a  nearer  inspection  I 
found  that  she  was  dead.     She  lay  raised  a  little  on 
one  side,  her  neck  stretched  out,  her  mouth  open 
and  full  of  snow,  her  wings  somewhat  extended,  and 
with  one  of  her  legs  appearing  a  little  behind  her. 

6.  Near  to  it  there  were  two  eggs.     On  my  dis- 
covering this,  I  lifted  up  the  bird,  and  underneath 
her  was  a  nest  containing  eleven  eggs ;  these,  with 
the  two  others,  made  thirteen  in  all :  a  few  of  them 
were  broken. 

7.  I  examined  the  whole  of  them,  and  found  them, 
without   exception,  to  contain  young  birds.     This 
was  an  undoubted  proof  that  the  poor  mother  had 
sat  upon  them  from  two  to  three  weeks.     With  her 
dead  body  in  my  hand,  I  sat  down  to  investigate  the 
matter,  and  to  ascertain,  if  I  could,  the  cause  of  her 
death. 

8.  I  examined  her  minutely  all   over,  and   could 
find  neither  wound  nor  any  mark  whatever  of  vio- 
lence.     She  had  every  appearance  of  having  died 
of  suffocation.     Although  I  had  only  circumstantial 
evidence,  I  had  no  hesitation  in  arriving  at  the  con- 
clusion that  she  had  come  by  her  death  in  a  desper- 
ate but  faithful  struggle  to  protect  her  eggs  from  the 
fatal  effects  of  the  recent  snow-storm. 

9.  I  could  not  help  thinking,  as  I  looked  at  her, 
how  deep  and  striking  an  example  she  afforded  of 
maternal  affection.     The   ruthless   blast  had  swept 
with  all  its  fury  along  the  lonesome  and  unsheltered 
hill.     The  snow  had  risen  higher,  and  the  smothering 
drift  came  fiercer,  as  night  drew  on ;  yet  still  that 
poor  bird,  in  defiance  of  the  warring  elements,  con- 


Burial  of  the  Wild  Duck.  269 

tinued  to  protect  her  home  and  the  treasure  which 
it  contained,  until  she  could  do  so  no  longer,  and 
yielded  up  her  life.  That  life  she  could  easily  have 
saved,  had  she  been  willing  to  abandon  the  offspring 
which  nature  had  taught  her  so  fervently  to  cherish, 
and  in  endeavoring  to  preserve  which  she  volun- 
tarily remained  and  died. 

10.  Occupied  with  such  feelings  and  reflections  as 
these,  I  know  not  how  long  I  might  have  sat,  had  I 
not  been  roused  from  my  rev'erie  by  the  barking  of 
a  shepherd's  dog. 

11.  The   sun    had   already  set,  the    gray  twilight 
had  begun  to  hide  the  distant  mountains  from  my 
sight,  and  not  caring  to  be  benighted  on  such  a  spot, 
I  wrapped  a  piece  of  paper,  as  a  winding-sheet,  round 
the  faithful  and  devoted  bird,  and  digging  a  little 
grave,  I  laid  into  it  the  mother  and  the  eggs. 

12.  I  covered  them  with  earth  and  moss,  and  over 
all  placed  a  solid  piece  of  turf.     Having  done  so, 
and  being  more  affected  than  I  should  perhaps  be 
willing  to  acknowledge,   I  left  them  to  molder  into 
their  original  dust,  and  went  on  my  way. 


2  70  Terns  Fishing. 


III.  BRAVERY  OF  BIRDS — TERNS. 

lAVING  thus  related  an  instance  of  mater- 
nal affection  on  the  part  of  the  wild  duck, 
let  us  cite  a  still  more  remarkable  instance 

of  brotherly  sympathy  and   help  on  the  part  of  the 

common  tern,1  or  sea  swallow. 

2.  "  Being  on  the  sands  one  afternoon  at  the  end 
of  August,  I  observed  several  parties  of  terns  busily 
employed  in  fishing.     As  I  was  in  want  of  a  speci- 
men of  this  bird,  I  loitered  about  on  the  beach  nar- 
rowly watching  their  motions. 

3.  "The  scene  around  was  of  no  common  beauty. 
In  the  azure  heaven  not  a  cloud  was  to  be  seen,  as 
far  as  the  eye  could  reach ;  not  a  breath  of  wind  was 
stirring  the  placid  bosom  of  the  firth.     The  atmos- 
phere seemed   a  sea,  as  it  were,   of  living  things ; 
so    numerous  were  the   insects  that    hummed    and 
fluttered  to  and  fro  in  all  directions.     The  sun,  ap- 
proaching the  verge  of  the  horizon,  shot  long  and 
glimmering  bands  of  green  and  gold  across  the  broad 
mirror  of  the  deep.     Here  and  there  several  vessels 
were  lying  becalmed,  their  whitened  sails  showing 
brightly  in  the  goldened  light. 

4.  "An  additional  interest  was  imparted  by  the 
herring-boats  which  were  congregating  in  the  bay , 
their  loose  and  flagging  sails,  the  noise  of  the  oars, 
and  the  efforts  of  the  rowers,  told  plainly  enough 
that  a  hard  pull  would  have  to  be  undergone  before 
they  could  reach  their  particular  quarters  for  fishing. 

1  Tern,  an  aquatic  fowl  resembling  a  gull. 


A  Tern  Diving  for  Fish.  271 

5.  "  While  I  stood  surveying  with  delight  the  ex- 
tended and  glorious  prospect,  and  witnessing  with 
admiration  the  indefatigable  evolutions  of  the  terns 
in  their  search  for   food,  I  observed  one  of  them 
break  off  from  a  party  of  five,  and  direct  his  course 
toward  the  shore,  fishing  all  the  way  as  he  came. 

6.  "  It  was  an  interesting  sight  to  behold  him  as 
he  approached  in  his  flight — at  one  moment  rising, 
at   another  descending — now  poised  in  mid-air,  his 
wings  expanded  but   motionless,    his  piercing   eye 
directed   to  the  water  beneath,  and  watching  with 
eager  gaze  the  movements  of  its  scaly  inhabitants 
— and  now,  as  one  of  them  would  ever  and  anon 
come  sufficiently  near  the  surface,  making  his  attack 
upon  the  fish  in  the  manner  so  thoroughly  taught 
him  by  nature. 

7.  "  Quick  as  thought,  he  closed  to  his  side  his 
outspread  pinions;  turned  off  his  equilibrium  with  a 
movement  almost  imperceptible  ;  and,  with  a  seem- 
ing carelessness,  threw  himself  headlong   into   the 
deep  so  rapidly  that  the  eye  could  with  difficulty 
keep  pace  with  his  descent. 

8.  "  In  the  least  space  of  time  he  would  be  seen 
sitting   on    the   water,   swallowing   his   prey.     This 
being  accomplished  he  again  mounted  into  the  air. 
He  halts  in  his  progress.     Something  has  caught  his 
eye.     He  lets  himself  down  ;  but  it  is  only  for  a  lit- 
tle, for  his  expected  prey  has  vanished  from  his  sight. 

9.  "  Once  more  he  soars  aloft  on  lively  wing ;  and 
having  attained  a  certain    elevation,  and    hovering 
for  a  little,  with  quick-repeated  strokes  of  his  pinions 
he  rapidly  descends. 


272  The  Wounded  Tern. 

10.  "Again,  however,  his    hoped-for  victim    has 
made  its  escape  ;  and  he  bounds  away  in  an  oblique x 
direction,  describing  a  beautiful   curve  as  he  rises 
without  having  touched  the  water. 

11.  "Shortly  after,  he  wings  his  way  nearer  and 
nearer  to  the  beach ;  onward  he  advances  with  zig- 
zag flight,  when  suddenly,  as  if  struck  down  by  an 
unseen  hand,  he  drops  into  the  water  within  about 
thirty  yards  of  the  place  where  I  am  standing. 

12.  "As  he  righted  and  sat  on  the  bosom  of  the 
deep,  I  was  enabled  distinctly  to  perceive  that  he 
held  in  his  bill  a  little  scaly  captive,  which  he  had 
snatched  from  its  home,  and  which  struggled  vio- 
lently to   regain   its   liberty.     Its  struggles  were  in 
vain  ;  a  few  squeezes  from  the  mandibles 2  of  the  bird 
put  an  end  to  its  existence. 

13.  "Being  now  within   my  reach,   I  stood  pre- 
pared for  the  moment  when  he  should  again  arise. 
This  he  did   so  soon  as  the  fish  was  dispatched.     I 
fired,  and  he  came  down  with  a  broken  wing,  scream- 
ing as  he  fell  into  the  water.     The  report  of  the 
gun,  together  with  his  cries,  brought  together  the 
party  he  had  left,  in  order  that  they  might  ascertain 
the  cause  of  the  alarm. 

14.  "  After  surveying  their  wounded  brother  round 
and  round,  as  he  was  drifting  unwittingly  toward 
the  shore  with  the  flowing  tide,  they  came  flying  in 
a  body  to  the  spot  where  I  stood,  and  rent  the  air 
with  their  screams. 

1  Oblique,  ob-leek',  slanting. 
3  Man'di-bles,  jaws. 


Wounded  Tern  Rescued.  273 

15.  "These  they  continued  to  utter,  regardless  of 
their  own  individual  safety,  until  I  began  to  make 
preparations  for  receiving  the  approaching  bird. 

1 6.  "I  could  already  see  that  it  was  a  beautiful 
adult  specimen  ;  and  I  expected  in  a  few  moments 
to  have  it  in  my  possession,  being  not  very  far  from 
the  water's  edge. 

17.  "  While  matters  were  in  this  position,  I  beheld, 
to  my  utter  astonishment  and  surprise,  two  of  the 
unwounded  terns  take  hold  of  their  disabled  com- 
rade, one  at  each  wing,  lift  him  out  of  the  water,  and 
bear  him  out  seaward.     They  were  followed  by  two 
other  birds. 

1 8.  "  After  being  carried  about  six  or  seven  yards, 
he  was  let  gently  down  again,  when  he  was  taken 
up  in  a  similar  manner  by  the  two  which  had  been 
hitherto  inactive. 

19.  "  In   this  way  they  continued   to   carry  him 
alternately,  until  they  had  conveyed  him  to  a  rock 
at  a  considerable  distance,  upon  which  they  landed 
him  in  safety. 

20.  "  Having  recovered  my  self-possession,  I  made 
toward  the  rock,  wishing  to  obtain  the  prize  which 
had   been    so  unceremoniously   snatched   from   my 
grasp.     I  was  observed,  however,  by  the  terns ;  and 
instead  of  four,  I  had  in  a  short  time  a  whole  flock 
about  me. 

21.  "On  my  near  approach  to  the  rock,  I  once 
more  beheld  two  of  them  take  hold  of  the  wounded 
bird  as  they  had  done  already,  and  bear  him  out  to 
sea  in  triumph,  far  beyond  my  reach.     This,  had  I 
been  so  inclined,  I  could  no  doubt  have  prevented, 


274  Perseverance  of  Birds. 

22.  "  Under  the  circumstances,  however,  my  feel- 
ings would  not  permit  me ;  and  I  willingly  allowed 
them   to   perform    without    molestation    an   act  of 
mercy,  and  to  exhibit  an  instance  of  affection,  which 
man  himself  need  not  be  ashamed  to  imitate. 

23.  "  I  was,  indeed,  rejoiced  at  the  disappointment 
which  they  had  occasioned,   for  they  had  thereby 
rendered  me  the  witness  of  a  scene  which  I   could 
scarcely  have  believed,  and  which  no  length  of  time 
will  efface  from  my  recollection." 


IV.  PERSEVERANCE  OF  BIRDS— THE  TURN-STONE. 

JT  length   I  came  in  sight  of  the  two  little 
workers,  which  were  busily  endeavoring  to 
turn  over  a  dead  fish  which  was  fully  six 
times  their  size. 

2.  "  I  immediately  recognized  them  as  turn-stones. 
Not  wishing  to  disturb  them,  and  anxious  at  the 
same  time  to  witness  their  operations,  I  observed 
that  a  few  paces  nearer  them  there  was  a  deep  hol- 
low among  the  shingle,  which  I  contrived  to  creep 
into  unobserved. 

3.  "  Having  got  fairly  settled  down,  I  turned  my 
undivided  attention  to  the  birds  before  me.    They 
were  boldly  pushing  at  the  fish  with  their  bills,  and 
then  with  their  breasts.     Their  endeavors,  however, 
were  in  vain  :  the  object  remained  immovable.     On 
seeing  this,  they  both  went  round  to  the  opposite 
side,  and  began  to  scrape  away  the  sand  from  be- 
neath the  fish. 


Birds  Exhibiting  Signs  of  Joy.       275 

4.  "  After  removing  a  considerable  quantity,  they 
again  came  back  to  the  spot  which  they  had  left,  and 
went  once  more  to  work  with  their  bills  and  breasts, 
but  with  as  little  apparent  success  as  formerly. 

5.  "Nothing  daunted,  however,  they  ran  round  a 
second  time   to  the  other   side,  and  recommenced 
their  trenching  operations  with  a  seeming  determi- 
nation not  to  be  baffled  in  their  object,  which  evi- 
dently was  to  undermine  the  dead    animal   before 
them,  in  order  that  it  might  be  the  more  easily  over- 
turned. 

6.  "  While  they  were  thus  employed,   and  after 
they  had  labored  in  this  manner  at  both  sides  alter- 
nately for  nearly  half  an  hour,  they  were  joined  by 
another  of  their  own  species,  which  came  flying  with 
rapidity  from  the  neighboring  rocks. 

7.  "  Its  timely  arrival  was  hailed  with  evident  signs 
of  joy.     I  was  led  to  this  conclusion  from  the  ges- 
tures which  they  exhibited,   and    from    a   low  but 
pleasant  murmuring  noise  to  which  they  gave  utter- 
ance so  soon  as  the  new-comer  made  his  appearance. 

8.  "  Of  their  feelings  he  seemed  to  be  perfectly 
aware,  and   he  made  his  reply  to  them  in  a  similar 
strain.     Their   mutual  congratulations    being   over, 
they  all  three  set  to  work ;  and  after  laboring  vigor- 
ously for  a  few  minutes  in  removing  the  sand,  they 
came  round  to  the  other  side,   and  putting   their 
breasts  simultaneously  to  the  fish,  they  succeeded  in 
raising  it  some  inches  from  the  sand,  but  were  un- 
able to  turn  it  over.     It  went  down  again  into  its 
sandy  bed,  to  the  manifest  disappointment  of  the 
three. 


276  Sagacity  of  Birds. 

9.  "  Resting,  however,  for  a  while,  and    without 
leaving  their  respective  positions,  which  were  a  little 
apart    the   one  from   the    other,    they    resolved,    it 
appears,  to  give  the  work  another  trial. 

10.  "  Lowering  themselves,  with  their  breasts  close 
to  the  sand,  they  managed  to  push  their  bills  under- 
neath  the  fish,  which  they  made  to  rise  to  about  the 
same  height  as  before. 

11.  ''Afterward,  withdrawing  their  bills,  but  with- 
out losing  the  advantage  which  they  had  gained, 
they  applied  their  breasts  to  the  object.     This  they 
did  with  such  force  and    to  such  purpose   that  at 
length  it  went  over  and  rolled  several  yards  down  a 
slight  declivity. 

12.  "  It  was  followed  to  some  distance  by  the  birds 
themselves,  before  they  could  recover  their  bearing. 

13.  "I  was  so  pleased,  and  even  delighted,  with 
the  sagacity  and  perseverance  which  they  had  shown 
that  I  should  have  considered  myself  guilty  of  a  crime 
had  I  taken  away  the  lives  of  these  in'teresting  beings 
at  the  very  moment  when  they  were  exercising,  in 
a  manner  so  happily  for  themselves,  the  wonderful 
instincts  implanted  in  them  by  their  Creator." 

THOMAS  EDWARD,  the  Scotch  Naturalist,  whose  life  has  been 
written  by  Samuel  Smiles,  was  born  in  1814.  He  lived  in  Aber- 
deen, in  the  northern  part  of  Scotland,  where  he  pursued  his  love  of 
nature  surrounded  by  difficulties  and  troubles — not  the  least  of 
which  was  that  of  domestic  poverty.  Having  to  work  hard  as  a 
shoemaker,  to  support  his  family,  he  spent  most  of  his  nights  out- 
of-doors,  amidst  damp,  and  wet,  and  cold,  in  search  of  knowledge. 
Many  men  thought  him  mad  for  undergoing  such  privations.  In 
1866,  he  was  elected  an  Associate  of  the  Linnaean  Society — one  of 
the  highest  honors  that  science  could  confer  upon  him. 


Notes  on  Birds.  277 


NOTES  ON   BIRDS. 

1.  BIRDS  are  great  travelers.     Many,  after  they  have 
brought  up  their  young  to  take  care  of  themselves,  under- 
take voyages  which  are  sometimes  very  long.    They  are 
guided  by  an  instinct  which  we  find  it  difficult  to  under- 
stand, and  they  never  lose  their  way. 

2.  In  this,  the  North  Temperate  Zone,  they  set  out 
every  autumn  about  the  same  date,  always  in  the  same 
direction,  and  their  return  is  one  of  the  welcome  signs  of 
spring. 

3.  Some  fly  in  pairs,  and  others  in  flocks ;  some  by  day, 
others  by  night ;  some  high  in  air,  descending  only  occa- 
sionally and  for  short  periods,  while  others  less  able  to 
endure  long  flights  make  their  way  from  tree  to  tree  and 
from   forest   to   forest.      Aquatic  birds  make  their  way 
partly  by  flying  and  partly  by  swimming. 

4.  More  than  half  the  birds  of  North  America  fly  to 
the  Southern  States,  Mexico,  West  Indies,  or  Brazil,  where 
they  pass  the  winter. 

5.  Birds  are  almost  everywhere, — in  the  frozen  as  well 
as  the  temperate  zones,  and  in  the  tropical   forests ;  on 
plain  and  prairie,  desert  and  marsh ;  on  hill  and  in  valley ; 
on  mountain  and  cliff ;  in  the  brightest  sunshine  and  in  the 
darkest  cavern.     They  inhabit  the  air,  land,  and  water. 

6.  Some  never  fly,  while  others  seem  never  to  cease 
flying;  some  are  always  on  the  ground,  while  others  are 
never  seen  to  touch  it ;  some  are  so  active  that  their  wings 
cannot  be  seen  when  in  rapid  motion,  while  others  stand 
or  sit  in  solitude  as  motionless  as  a  stone.     All,  however, 
choose  the  place  and  pursue  the  course  to  which  they  are 
by  nature  adapted. 


2  78 


A  Wild  Fowl. 


The  Waterfowl.  279 


XIX.    THE  WATERFOWL. 

[HITHER,  midst  falling  dew, 

While  glow  the  heavens  with  the  last  steps 

of  day, 

Far,  through  their  rosy  depths,  dost  thou  pursue 
Thy  solitary  way  ? 

Vainly  the  fowler's  eye 

Might  mark  thy  distant  flight  to  do  thee  wrong, 
As,  darkly  seen  against  the  crimson  sky, 

Thy  figure  floats  along. 

Seek'st  thou  the  plashy  brink 

Of  weedy  lake,  or  marge  of  river  wide, 

Or  where  the  rocking  billows  rise  and  sink 
On  the  chafed  ocean-side? 

There  is  a  power  whose  care 

Teaches  thy  way  along  that  pathless  coast — 
The  desert  and  illimitable  air — 

Lone  wandering,  but  not  lost. 

All  day  thy  wings  have  fanned, 

At  that  far  height,  the  cold,  thin  atmosphere, 
Yet  stoop  not,  weary,  to  the  welcome  land, 

Though  the  dark  night  is  near. 

And  soon  that  toil  shall  end ; 

Soon  shalt  thou  find  a  summer-home,  and  rest, 
And  scream  among  thy  fellows ;  reeds  shall  bend, 

Soon,  o'er  thy  sheltered  rest. 


280  Robert  of  Lincoln. 

Thou'rt  gone,  the  abyss  of  heaven 

Hath  swallowed  up  thy  form  ;  yet,  on  my  heart 
Deeply  has  sunk  the  lesson  thou  hast  given, 

And  shall  not  soon  depart. 

He  who,  from  zone  to  zone, 

Guides  through  the  boundless  sky  thy  certain  flight, 
In  the  long  way  that  I  must  tread  alone, 

Will  lead  my  steps  aright. 

BRYANT. 


XX.    ROBERT   OF   LINCOLN. 

ERRILY  swinging  on  brier  and  weed, 

Near  to  the  nest  of  his  little  dame, 
Over  the  mountain-side  or  mead, 
Robert  of  Lincoln  is  telling  his  name : 
Bob-o'-link,  bob-o'-link, 
Spink,  spank,  spink; 
Snug  and  safe  is  that  nest  of  ours, 
Hidden  among  the  summer  flowers. 
Chee,  chee,  chee. 

Robert  of  Lincoln  is  gayly  drest, 

Wearing  a  bright  black  wedding-coat ; 
White  are  his  shoulders  and  white  his  crest 
Hear  him  call  in  his  merry  note : 
Bob-o'-link,  bob-o'-link, 
Spink,  spank,  spink ; 
Look,  what  a  nice  new  coat  is  mine, 
Sure  there  was  never  a  bird  so  fine. 
Chee,  chee,  chee. 


Robert  of  Lincoln.  28 1 

Robert  of  Lincoln's  Quaker  wife, 

Pretty  and  quiet,  with  plain  brown  wings, 
Passing  at  home  a  patient  life, 

Broods  in  the  grass  while  her  husband  sings : 
Bob-o'-link,  bob-o'-link, 
Spink,  spank,  spink ; 
Brood,  kind  creature ;  you  need  not  fear 
Thieves  and  robbers  while  I  am  here. 
Chee,  chee,  chee. 

Modest  and  shy  as  a  nun  is  she ; 

One  weak  chirp  is  her  only  note. 
Braggart  and  prince  of  braggarts  is  he, 
Pouring  boasts  from  his  little  throat : 
Bob-o'-link,  bob-o'-link, 
Spink,  spank,  spink ; 
Never  was  I  afraid  of  man  ; 
Catch  me,  cowardly  knaves,  if  you  can ! 
Chee,  chee,  chee. 

Six  white  eggs  on  a  bed  of  hay, 

Flecked  with  purple,  a  pretty  sight ! 
There  as  the  mother  sits  all  day, 

Robert  is  singing  with  all  his  might : 
Bob-o'-link,  bob-o'-link, 
Spink,  spank,  spink ; 
Nice  good  wife,  that  never  goes  out, 
Keeping  house  while  I  frolic  about. 
Chee,  chee,  chee. 

Soon  as  the  little  ones  chip  the  shell, 
Six  wide  mouths  are  open  for  food ; 

Robert  of  Lincoln  bestirs  him  well, 
Gathering  seeds  for  the  hungry  brood. 


282  Robert  of  Lincoln. 

Bob-o'-link,  bob-o'-link, 

Spink,  spank,  spink; 
This  new  life  is  likely  to  be 
Hard  for  a  gay  young  fellow  like  me. 
Chee,  chee,  chee. 

Robert  of  Lincoln  at  length  is  made 

Sober  with  work,  and  silent  with  care ; 
Off  is  his  holiday  garment  laid, 
Half  forgotten  that  merry  air : 
Bob-o'-link,  bob-o'-link, 
Spink,  spank,  spink; 
Nobody  knows  but  my  mate  and  I 
Where  our  nest  and  our  nestlings  lie. 
Chee,  chee,  chee. 

Summer  wanes  ;  the  children  are  grown , 

Fun  and  frolic  no  more  he  knows ; 
Robert  of  Lincoln's  a  humdrum  crone ; 
Off  he  flies,  and  we  sing  as  he  goes ; 
Bob-o'-link,  bob-o'-link, 
Spink,  spank,  spink ; 

When  you  can  pipe  that  merry  old  strain^ 
Robert  of  Lincoln,  come  back  again. 
Chee,  chee,  chee. 

BRYANT. 

WILLIAM  CULLEN  BRYANT,  a  celebrated  poet  and  editor,  born 
in  Massachusetts  in  1794.  He  moved  to  the  city  of  New  York  in 
1825.  His  talent  as  a  writer  was  remarkable  at  the  eleventh  year 
of  his  age,  and  throughout  his  life — which  extended  to  a  good 
old  age.  In  his  untiring  industry,  his  nobleness  of  character,  his 
modesty  and  purity,  the  example  of  his  life  is  one  which  all  young 
Americans  should  follow. 


A  Family  of  Tame  Birds.  283 


XXI.     HOSPITALITY  OF   BIRDS. 

|NE  winter,  when   I  lived  in  the  country,  I 
had  a  family  of  six  tame,  but  uncaged  birds ; 
they   were   a   strange-looking   group,  but, 
nevertheless,  a  very  happy  one. 

2.  There  was  a  jackdaw,  a  magpie,  two  skylarks, 
a  goldfinch,  and  a  robin,  and  they  lived  when   at 
home  in  a  large  and  well-thatched  a'viary,  which  was 
placed  in  a  very  sheltered  position.     In  this  abode 
they  kept  open  house,  for  there  was  always  a  good 
supply  of  food  kept  therein,  and  the  door  was  never 
shut  save  at  night,  when  we  closed  it  to  keep  out  stray 
cats,  rats,  and  other  enemies  of  the  feathered  race. 

3.  After  partaking  of  a  good  breakfast,  they  would 
daily  leave  their  comfortable  house  on  expeditions 
of  pleasure  or  business,  and  return  regularly  to  their 
supper  and  perch. 

4.  During  the  very  cold  weather,  they   brought 
home  nightly  a  party  of  hungry  wild  birds  to  share 
with  themselves  the  hospitality  of  the  aviary  ;  some- 
times their  guests  would  number  nearly  two  hun- 
dred, and  it  was  really  quite  astonishing  to  see  the 
quantity  of  bread,  barley,  and  fat  meat  that  these 
little  beings  would  dispose  of.     Among  the  guests 
were  golden-crested  wrens,  which  were  the  first  to 
reach  and  the  last  to  quit  their  good  quarters. 

5.  Whilst  they  honored   us  with  their  company, 
they   ruled   the  whole   bird    community,  aud  what 
they  could  not  achieve  by  force  they  would  accom- 
plish by  stratagem. 


284 


Stratagem  of  Wrens. 


6.  For  instance,  if  one  of  these  tiny  creatures  took 
a  fancy  to  a  piece  of  meat  to  which  Mr.  Jackdaw  had 
helped  himself,  and  which  he  was  holding   firmly 
down  with  one  foot  whilst  he  pecked  at  it,  this  mite 
of  a  bird  would  jump  upon  the  jackdaw's  head,  and 
attack  the  eye  that  was  situated  on  the  side  of  the 
occupied  foot. 

7.  The  poor  jackdaw,   not   quite   understanding 
what  had  gone  wrong  with  him,  would  lift  his  foot 
to  scratch  away  his  tiny  tormentor  off  his  head,  when 
in  an  instant  the  coveted  morsel  was  seized  by  the 
daring  thief. 

8.  If,  after  selecting  a  piece  of  meat,  the  wrens 
were  left  to  themselves,  they  would  leave  the  larger 
birds  and  retire  to  a  quiet  corner,  where  they  would 
both  peck  amicably  at  the  same  piece,  and  if  the 
meat  happened  to  be  tough,  one  of  the  wise  little 
things  would  hold  it  fast  in  its  bill,  while  the  other 
would  pull  a  morsel  off;  and  then  the  one  that  had 
eaten  would  perform  the  same  kind  office  for  his 
friend. 


Scatter  Your  Crumbs.  285 


XXIL    SCATTER  YOUR   CRUMBS, 

MIDST  the  freezing  sleet  and  snow, 

The  timid  robin  comes ; 
In  pity  drive  him  not  away, 
But  scatter  out  your  crumbs. 

And  leave  your  door  upon  the  latch 

For  whosoever  comes ; 
The  poorer  they,  more  welcome  give, 

And  scatter  out  your  crumbs. 

All  have  to  spare,  none  are  too  poor, 
When  want  with  winter  comes ; 

The  loaf  is  never  all  your  own 
Then  scatter  out  your  crumbs. 

Soon  winter  falls  upon  your  life, 

The  day  of  reckoning  comes : 
Against  your  sins,  by  high  decree, 

Are  weighed  those  scattered  crumbs. 


THE   EAGLE. 

E  clasps  the  crag  with  crooked  hands ; 
Close  to  the  sun  in  lonely  lands, 
Ringed  with  the  azure  world,  he  stands. 

The  wrinkled  sea  beneath  him  crawls ; 
He  watches  from  the  mountain  walls, 
And  like  a  thunder-bolt  he  falls. 


286  A  Noble  Boy  and 

XXIIL   A    NOBLE    BOY    AND    HIS 
FAITHFUL    BIRD. 

|HE  island  of  Sardinia,  situated  in  the  Medi- 
terranean Sea,  contains  mountains  covered 
with  fine  trees,  amid  which  are   pleasant 
homes  surrounded  by  flowers. 

2.  Children  play  with  rabbits  and  martins  on  the 
mountain-side,  where  vines  leap  from  tree  to  tree, 
forming  festoons  and  natural  arbors,  in  which  birds 
build  their  nests  and  sing  their  songs. 

3.  Rivulets  dash,  dance,  and  sparkle  on  their  way 
to  the  little  lakes,  on  whose  shores  the  orange  ripens 
and  grapes  of  unsurpassed  richness  cluster.     When 
Rome  was  the  Mistress  of  the  World,  Sardinia  was 
called  her  gran'ary. 

4.  In  1654,  the  hero  of  our  story  was  born  on  this 
lovely  island.     A  bright,  proud,  dark-eyed  boy  he 
grew,  the  very  idol  of  his  parents.     He  rowed  on 
the  ti'ny  lake,  chased  the  moufflon 1  on  the  moun- 
tain, and  made  the  birds  his  friends.     Two  little  sis- 
ters shared  his  love,  and  Francesco  was  a  very  happy 
boy,  in  a  very  happy  home. 

5.  One  night,  when  he  was  ten  years  old,  he  kissed 
his  parents  and  went  to  his  nice  attic  bed,  and  slept 
the  sleep  of  a  good  boy  to  whom  life  has  been  all 
love  and  joy,  with  never  a  sorrow  or  care.     Let  us 
stop  and  look  at  that  calm  sleep :  for  so  shall  Fran- 
cesco never  sleep  again ! 

1  Moufflon,  mod f  Ion,  a  kind  of  sheep. 


His  Faithful  Bird.  287 

6.  The  midnight  was  made  hideous  by  that  cry 
of  "  Fire !  Fire  !  Fire !  "  and  he  awoke  to  see,  by  a 
glare  of  light,  his  mother  at  his  bedside  with  a  little 
girl  in  either  arm.    Through  crashing  timbers,  smoke 
and  flames  they  made  their  way  out. 

7.  Those  flames  rose  high  and  higher,  grew  hot 
and  hotter — now  rolling  up  as  a  scroll,  now  darting 
out  in  little  tongues,  and  now  sporting  with  each 
other  in  very  wantonness  of  glee,  while  a  huge  col- 
umn of  smoke  rolled  up  and  shut  out  all  the  bright- 
ness of  heaven.     Fiercely  the  flames  raged,  fiercely 
the  men  fought  them  ;  and  the  father  was  foremost 
in  the  fight,  until  the  dreadful  fire  leaped  but  and 
wrapped  him  in  a  death  embrace. 

8.  The  watching  mother,  with  one  loud  shriek, 
fell.     As  friends  clustered  around  to  bring  her  back 
to  conscious 1  life,  they  saw  that  her  feet  were  fearfully 
burned.      In   bringing   out  her  children,   she  must 
have  trodden  on  live  coals,  but  in  her  anxiety,  have 
forgotten  herself. 

9.  The  sun  on  the  morning  after  that  happy  even- 
ing— that    awful  night — rose  calm    and  bright.     It 
shone  on  the  few  charred a  bones  of  the  loving  father  ; 
on  the  prostrate  mother,  whose  feet,  swift  to  save  her 
darlings,  took  then  their  last  step  ;  on  the  smoulder- 
ing embers  of  the  nice  home ;  on  three  poor  little 
homeless  orphans.     It  shone  with  not  one  gleam  of 
sympathy  in  a  single  ray,  and  its  very  warmth  and 
brightness  made  it  seem  cold  and  dark,  and  chilled 
Francesco's  young,  aching  heart. 

1  Conscious,  kon'shus.  9  Charred,  tshdrd. 


288  A  Noble  Boy  and 

10.  For  a  time  friends  cared  for  the  family ;  but 
little  was  saved  from  the  wreck  of  property,  and 
often  they  suffered  with  hunger,  and  the  mother 
was  compelled  to  send  her  son  to  tell  her  friends.  A 
cold  look,  an  indifferent  tone,  was  worse  than  hunger 
to  him,  yet  for  his  mother  and  sisters  he  would  brave 
even  a  frown. 

n.  One  night,  as  he  lay  on  his  hard  bed,  the 
moonlight  shining  through  his  little  window,  asking 
himself,  as  he  had  often  done,  "  What  can  I  do?" — 
a  thought  of  the  birds  he  used  to  pet  came  to  him, 
and  a  smile  played  on  his  lips,  though  his  eyes  were 
blurred  with  his  lone  weeping,  and  great  tears  trem- 
bled on  his  long,  dark  eyelashes.  % 

12.  In  the  morning  he  brought  in  some  bits  of 
wood  and  began  to  whittle.    An  assurance  of  coming 
independence  was  written  all  over  his  face,  and  he 
made  the  whole  house  cheery  with  the  chirp  of  his 
musical  whistle,1  and  his  mother,  in  her  chair,  re- 
joiced to  see  her  boy  so  happy. 

13.  "These  cups,  mother,  are  for  birds  to  drink 
out  of;  then   I'll  make   some  for  seeds,   and   then 
some  bath-tubs  for  them." 

14.  "  Where  are  your  birds,  Franco? " 

15.  "The  eggs  for  them  are  not  laid  yet!     But 
they  will  be  in  the  spring,"  he  said,  with  a  merry 
shout,  "  and  I'll  make  the  birds  tame,  and  sell  them, 
and  buy  you  everything  you  need,  mother ! — It  will 
be  splendid,  mother !  "  he  added  after  a  little  ;  "  I 
will  get  some  willows  and  build  a  real  bird-house." 

1  Whistle,  whis'sl. 


His  Faithful  Bird.  289 

16.  "  But  your  birds  must  be  fed,  Franco." 

17.  "I  know  it ;  I'll  give  them  my  dinner,  and  not 
care  for  myself." 

1 8.  The  mother  smiled  sadly:    for   she   did   not 
know  how  much  a  boy  can  do  when  his  heart  and 
mind  are  at  work  with  a  will ;  but  she  would  not 
dampen  his  pleasure  by  saying  a  discouraging  word. 

19.  Instead  of  dying  out,  his  thoughts  kept  grow- 
ing— and  thoughts  do  grow, — and  he  not  only  tamed 
some  birds,  but  he  taught  them  little  tricks,   and 
they  sold  well. 

20.  Then  his  thought  was  very  large :  he  would 
have  an  exhibition  of  tamed  birds !     He  got  some 
partridges — for  those   he   found  learned   best — and 
trained  them.     Some  he  harnessed  to  a  little  brass 
cannon,  and  they  would  draw  it  across  a  table,  while 
others  would  be  armed  with  wooden  swords,  and  all 
would   march   and   wheel   and   form   as   Francesco 
beat  on   a  ti'ny  drum.     Then  all  would  stand  still 
while  one  bird  would  fire  off  the  cannon. 

21.  One  bird  was  his  special  pet,  and  grew  to  be 
his  firm  friend  and  constant  companion.     It  learned 
everything,  and  helped  him  to  teach  the  other  birds, 
and  it  seemed  as  if  they  knew  what  the  partridge 
said  to  them. 

22.  It  would  scold,  and  even  punish  them,  if  they 
did  not  obey.     But  it  was  never  content  away  from 
Franco.     If  he  went  to  the  woods  or  to  the  city,  it 
would  always  go  with  him, — sometimes  riding  on  his 
head,  sometimes  on  his  shoulder,  and  sometimes  fly- 
ing around  him,  so  that  "  the  young  bird-tamer  and 
his  bird  "  were  spoken  of  together. 


290  Death  of  the  Boy  and  Bird. 

23.  But  once  his  faithful  partridge  left  him, — at  a 
time,  too,  when  he  was  feeling  very  sad,  because  a 
beautiful  goldfinch  he  was  taming  for  a  lady  had 
flown  away,  and  he  was  almost  discouraged. 

24  On  the  fifth  day,  however,  back  came  the 
goldfinch  chased  by  the  partridge,  which  settled  on 
Franco's  hand  with  the  air  of  a  conqueror  and  love 
of  a  faithful  friend. 

25.  This  noble  boy  fell  sick.    He  wanted  his  birds, 
and  they   were   let   into   his   room ;    they   hovered 
around  his  bed,  rested    on  his  pillow,  and  ate  from 
his  hand  and  sang  to  him.     But  the  partridge  would 
not  eat  or  make  a  sound. 

26.  The  moment  came  when  the  doctor  said  those 
sad  words,    "  No  hope."     Not   one  moan    rose  for 
himself.     But  "  Who  will  take  care  of  my  mother — of 
my  mother — of — my — moth — er?"  he  moaned  until 
the  pale  lips  grew  cold,  and  the  bright  eyes  closed. 

27.  They  put  the  birds  back  into  the  aviary,1  but 
the  partridge  could  not  be  coaxed  or  driven  from 
Francesco.     They  laid  him  in   the  coffin,   and  the 
partridge    perched    on  it ;    they   bore  him    to    the 
churchyard  and  it  flew  over,  and  with  an  eye  fixed  on 
that  coffin,  watched  as  they  lowered  it  into  the  grave. 

28.  Night  and  day  it  stayed  in  that  tree,  going 
away  sometimes  for  food,  but  returning  to  the  same 
tree,  from  which  it  could  not  be  coaxed. 

29.  Watching,  waiting,  mourning,  the  loving  little 
bird-heart  broke,  and  they  laid  it  with  tender  hands 
and  tearful  eyes  on  the  grave  of  him  it  had  loved  so 
well. N.  Y.  OBSERVER. 

1  Aviary,  a'v-i-ary,  a  place  to  keep  birds  in. 


Written  Review.  291 

XXIV.     SPELLING   AND   WRITING. 

BIRDS    OF    PREY  —  FLESH-EATERS—  WITH    HOOKED    BILL  AND    SHARP 
TALONS  : 


CLIMBERS 


RUNNERS   (WINGS   NOT   ADAPTED   TO   FLYING)  : 


WADERS  (LONG  LEGS,  NECK,  AND  BILL)  : 
j,  (P.*)  ^tfatA,  (M.)  ^t-tme,  (F.M-) 


SWIMMERS  (WEB-FOOTED): 


t/ 


*  Those  marked  (F.)  are  Fishers  ;  (M.)  Migratory  or  Birds  of  Passage 


292       Catching  Cattle  with  the  Lasso. 


Catching:  Cattle  with  the  Lasso. 

XXV.    ABOUT   QUADRUPEDS. 

ERE  are  two  herdsmen  riding  rapidly 
after  a  herd  of  CATTLE  and  throwing 
their  lassoes.  A  lasso  is  a  rope  about 
half  an  inch  thick,  made  of  strips  of  leather,  and 
about  thirty  feet  long,  with  a  slip-noose  at  one 
end  that  runs  very  easily.  The  other  end  is  fast- 
ened securely  to  the  front  of  the  saddle. 

2.  These  men  are  so  skillful  in  throwing  the 
lasso  that  they  can  catch  a  bull  by  any  one  of 
his  legs  or  by  either  horn.  The  horse  is  trained 


Uses  if  Cattle — 7 7ie  Buffalo.          293 

to  stand  still  as  soon  as  the  lasso  is  thrown,  with 
his  fore  feet  well  braced  to  meet  the  shock. 
Sometimes  a  bull  thus  caught  by  the  horns  in 
full  career  turns  a  complete  somerset,  and, 
falling  heavily  on  his  back,  is  so  thoroughly 
jarred  that  he  is  disposed  to  be  very  submis- 
sive, and  trots  on  quietly  with  the  herd. 

3.  Millions  of  cattle  feed  on  the  vast  grassy  plains  of 
Texas,  Mexico,  and  South  America.    Their  value 
lies  chiefly  in  their  flesh,  which  is  called  beef;  their  hides, 
which   are  manufactured  into  leather ,    and  their   tallow, 
which  is  used  in  making  soap  and  candles. 

4.  Cattle  are  numerous  also  in  Russia,  India,  and 
our  Western  States  and  Territories. 

What   does  the  cow   give  us  ?     What  is  made  from 
milk  ?     What  is  the  flesh  of  calves  called  ?     Veal. 

5.  Leather  is  made  from  the  hides  and  skins  of  cattle, 
horses,  goats,  sheep,  deer,  and  buffalo.     Its  manufacture 
is  one  of  the  most  important  industries  in  the  United 
States  and  England. 

6.  Here  is  a  herd  of  BUFFALOES,  which  are 
more  properly  called  bisons.     Indians  are  pursu- 
ing them.     They  are  killed  with  guns,  spears, 
bows  and  arrows.     Their  flesh  is  used  for  food. 

7.  An   Indian  has  been  known   to  send  an 
arrow  with  such  force  that  its  head  has  gone 
entirely  through  the  body  of  a  buffalo.     The 
dressed  skin   of  the  buffalo  is  called  a  buffalo 
robe,  and  many  of  them  are  used  in  this  coun- 
try in  winter,  when  people  go  in  sleighs  over 
the  snow. 


The  Buffalo— Its   Uses. 


American  Indians  Hunting  Buffaloes  on  the  Prairies. 

8.  The  Indians  use  buffalo  skins  for  clothing 
and  for  tents,  as  well  as  for  making  a  peculiar: 
kind  of  shoe  called  a  moc'casin. 

9.  BUFFALOES  were  formerly  found  as  far  east 
as  the  State  of  New  York,  but  now  none  are 
found  east  of  the  Mississippi   River,    and 
they  are  constantly  diminishing  in  numbers. 

10.  The  American  BUFFALO,  or  BISON,  is  also 
hunted  by  wolves.    These  join  in  a  pack  and  try 
to  cut  off  one  of  the  buffaloes  from  the  herd. 

11.  The  true  buffalo  has  long  horns,  and  resembles  a 
cow.     The  buffalo,  zebu,  and  yak,  when  tamed,  work  like 
the  ox,  or  give  milk  like  the  cow. 


Yak — Zebu — Buffalo — Gnu.          295 


Blackboard  drawing-  of  Yak  and  Zebu;   each  about  6  feet  6 
inches  in  length. 

12.  The  YAK  is  larger  than  common  cattle.     It  has  a 
bushy  tail   and  long  hair,  from  which  tents   and   ropes 
are   made.      It   is   found    in    Thibet    (tib'et)    and   other 
parts  of  Central  Asia,  both  in  the  wild  and  the  domestic 
state. 

13.  The  ZEBU  resembles  an  ox,  except  that  it  has  a 
large  hump  on  its  back  over  its  shoulders.     Some  are 
wild  and  some  are  domesticated  in  Asia,  Africa  and  the 
islands  of  the  Indian  Ocean.     Hindoos  consider  the  Zebu 

sacred. 

14.  The  true  BUFFALOES 
inhabit    Asia    and   Africa, 
where  they  run  in  herds  and 
are  fierce  and  strong.     One 
is  able  to  kill  an  elephant. 

15.  The  GNU  of  South 
Africa  has  a  body  like  that 
of  a  horse,  and  a  head  and 

Buffalo  of  the  East ;  length  10  ft.   horns  like  those  of  an  ox. 

16.  Of  all  animals  the  DOG  shows  the  greatest 
affection  for  his  master,  whose  smile,  or  frowa 


296  Dog—  Wolf— Fox— Jackal. 


Fox  Chasing:  a  Rabbit. 

or  word,  gives  either  pleasure  or  pain  to  this 
faithful  companion  of  man. 

17.  He  is  ever  ready  to  risk  his  life  for  his  master;  and 
so  constant  is  he,  that  when  death  has  entered  his  master's 
home,  this  devoted  creature  has  been  known  to  grieve  his 
life  away  on  the  newly  made  grave. 

1 8.  Especially  useful  and  intelligent  are  the  shepherd's 
dog,  the  Newfoundland  dog,  St.  Bernard  dog,  the  fleet 
greyhound,  the  keen-scented  hunting  dog,  the  courageous 
bull-dog,  and  the  rat-killing  terrier. 

19.  Animals  of  the  dog  kind  include  the  WOLF,  which 
lives  in  a  wild,  savage  state,  and  is  always  in  search  of 
plunder;   the  Fox,  which  is  noted  for  its  cunning,  sly, 
and  thieving  disposition;  and  the  JACKAL,  of   Asia  and 
Africa,  which,  like  the  wolf,  hunts  in  bands  or  packs. 

20.  There   is   an  interesting   animal  found  upon  the 
prairies,  called  the  PRAIRIE  DOG.     These  little  animals 
burrow  in  the  ground  like  rabbits,  and  live  in  communities 
so  numerous  that  their  "  dog  town,"  as  it  is  called,  some- 
times extends  for  miles. 

21.  Another  very  common  animal  is  the  CAT.     Of  this 


Ca  t — L  ion —  Tiger — L  eopa  rd.         297 

kind  are  the  WILD  CAT,  LION,  TIGER,  LEOPARD,  JAGU-AR 
PUMA,  and  LYNX. 

22.  The  LION  is  called  the  "king  of  beasts,"  lives  in 
Asia  and  Africa,  and  is  noted  for  its  powerful  claws  and 
great  courage ;   the   TIGER   inhabits  the   jungle  grass  of 
Southern  Asia,  has  a  striped  body  and  a  fierce  disposition, 
and  does  not  hesitate  to  attack  even  the  elephant  or  man; 
the  LEOPARD  of  Asia  and  Africa  resembles  the  Tiger,  except 
that  its  beautiful  and  valuable  skin  is  spotted  ;  the  JAGUAR' 
or  South  American  Tiger  is  spotted  like  the  Leopard,  and 
is  strong  enough  to  carry  off  a  horse ;  the  PUMA  is  called 
the  American  lion ;  the  LYNX  resembles  the  cat. 

23.  Animals  of  the  dog  and  the  cat  kind  are  eaters  of 
flesh,  and  are  therefore  called  carnivorous.    Animals  which 
are  tame  and  live  in  or  near  people's  houses,  are  domestic 
animals  ;  others  are  wild. 

Is  a  dog  a  domestic,  or  wild  animal  ?     A  lion  ?     A 
tiger  ?     A  cat  ?     A  wolf  ?     A  leopard  ? 

24.  The  animal  which  most  resembles  man  is 

the  GORILLA.  Its  head  and 
arms  are  longer  than  those 
of  a  man.  Its  mouth  is 
very  projecting.  Some  Go- 
rillas are  nearly  as  tall  as  a 
man,  but  they  are  usually 
seen  in  a  bent  or  crouching 
posture.  The  coarse  hair 
which  covers  them  is  either 
gray  or  blackish.  A  full  grown  Gorilla  is  savage 
and  powerful,  being  feared  even  by  the  lion. 
When  about  to  attack  an  enemy,  he  stands  up, 


298  Chimpanzee — Monkeys,  Etc. 

beats  his  breast,  and  gives  a  loud  and  terrific 
roar.  His  food  is  vegetables,  sugar-cane,  ber- 
ries, and  fruits. 

25.  The  CHIMPANZEE,  the  BABOON,  APE  and 
ORANG-OUTANG  are  smaller  than  the   Gorilla. 
The  Gorilla  and  Chimpanzee  have  both  been 
called  "  wild  men  of  the  woods." 

26.  The  common  MONKEY  has  a  flat  face 
and   long   tail ;    it    is    a    great    mimic,   quite 
ingenious   and  very  mischievous.      There  are 
many  varieties  of  monkeys.     Some  seem  to  be 
constantly    chattering,    crying,    jumping    and 
swinging,  while  others  are  grave  and  silent.     In 
some  parts  of  India  a  light-colored  monkey  is 
considered  sacred  by  the  natives. 

27.  Monkeys  in  South  America  have  a  curious  way  of 
crossing  a  stream.     One  holds  on  to  a  limb  of  a  tree,  and 
to  him  a  long  line  of  monkeys  will  fasten  themselves  by 
means  of  their  arms  and  tails.     When  the  line  i?  long 
enough,  they  will  swing  themselves  until  the  one  at  the 
other  end  of  the  line  will  swing  across  to  a  tree  on  the 
opposite  bank,  and  take  hold  of  it ;  then  the  first  monkey 
lets  go,  and  all  swing  across. 

28.  The  Gorilla  and  Chimpanzee  are  found  in  the  for- 
ests of  Western  Africa ;  the  Monkeys,  Apes,  etc.,  in  the 
warm  parts  of  Asia,  Africa,  South  America,  and  on  the 
islands  southeast  of  Asia. 

29.  The  celebrated  traveler  Du  Chaillu  tells  some  very 
interesting  stories  about  Gorillas,  which  he  was  the  first  to 
capture. 


A   Gorilla  Hunt.  299 

30.  Here  is  one :  "  One  day,  I  remember  well,  we  were 
out  for  Gorillas,  which  we  knew  were  to  be  found  there- 
abouts by  the  presence  of  a  certain  kind  of  fruit  of  which 
the  animal  is  fond. 

"  We  beat  the  bush  for  two  hours,  when  suddenly  an 
immense  Gorilla  advanced  out  of  the  wood  straight  toward 
us,  and  gave  vent,  as  he  came  up,  to  a  terrible  howl  of 
rage,  as  much  as  to  say,  '  I  am  tired  of  being  pursued,  and 
will  face  you.' 

"  It  was  a  lone  male,  the  kind  which  is  always  most 
ferocious.  This  fellow  made  the  woods  resound  with  his 
roar,  which  is  really  an  awful  sound,  resembling  very  much 
the  rolling  and  muttering  of  distant  thunder. 

"  He  was  about  twenty  yards  or  steps  off  when  we  first 
saw  him.  We  at  once  gathered  together,  and  stood  in 
silence,  gun  in  hand. 

"  The  Gorilla  looked  at  us  for  a  minute  or  so  out  of  his 
evil  grey  eyes,  then  beat  his  breast  with  his  gigantic  arms 
— and  what  arms  he  had  ! — then  he  gave  another  howl  of 
defiance,  and  advanced  upon  us.  How  horrible  he  looked ! 
I  shall  never  forget  it. 

"Again  he  stopped,  not  more  than  fifteen  steps  or 
paces  away.  Again  he  advanced.  Now  he  was  not  twelve 
yards  off.  I  could  see  plainly  his  ferocious  face.  It  was 
distorted  with  rage ;  his  huge  teeth  ground  against  each 
other,  so  that  we  could  hear  the  sound ;  the  skin  of  his 
forehead  was  drawn  forward  and  back  rapidly,  which  made 
his  hair  move  up  and  down,  and  gave  a  hideous  expression 
to  his  face.  Once  more  he  gave  out  a  roar  which  seemed 
to  shake  the  woods  like  thunder.  Looking  us  in  the  eyes 
and  beating  his  broad  breast,  he  advanced  again. 

" '  Don't  fire  too  soon,'  said  one  of  my  hunters  ;  *  if  you 
do  not  kill  him,  he  will  kill  you.'  As  the  Gorilla  came  up, 


300  The  Elephant. 

*  Now !'  shouted  the  hunter,  and  before  the  Gorilla  could 
utter  the  roar  for  which  he  was  opening  his  mouth,  three 
musket  balls  were  in  his  body.  He  fell  dead  almost  with- 
out a  struggle. 

"He  was  a  monstrous  beast,  indeed,  although  not 
among  the  tallest.  His  height  was  five  feet  six  inches. 
His  arms  had  a  spread  of  over  seven  feet.  His  chest 
measured  fifty  inches  around.  His  arms  seemed  like 
immense  bunches  of  muscles  only ;  and  his  legs  and  claw- 
like  feet  were  well  fitted  for  grabbing,  climbing  and 
holding. 

"The  face  of  this  Gorilla  was  intensely  black.  His 
body  was  covered  with  gray  hair,  except  his  chest,  which 
was  bare.  While  the  animal  approached  us  in  his  fierce 
way,  walking  on  his  hind  legs  and  facing  us,  it  really 
seemed  to  me  to  be  a  horrible  likeness  of  a  man." 

31.  The  ELEPHANT  is  the  largest,  strongest, 
and  heaviest  quadruped,  or  four-footed  animal. 
His  body  is  covered  with  a  very  thick  hide, 
without  hair.     His  legs  are  thick  and  clumsy. 

32.  He  has  a  long  trunk  or  nose,  called  a 
proboscis  {pro-bos' sis),  which  can  lift  a  large  or 
a  small  object,  even  as  small  as  a  pin. 

33.  His  trunk  is  very  powerful.      It  is  his 
means   of   defence  and  offence ;   with    it   this 
enormous  creature  conveys  food  and  water  to 
his  mouth,  which  is  just  under  it  and  at  its  base. 
He  also  draws  water  into  his  trunk,  to  wash 
himself  with,  which  he  does  by  blowing  if  out 
all  over  him. 


34-  His  two  long  tusks  of  ivory  project  from 
the  sides  of  his  mouth ;  with  these  he  digs  in 
the  ground  for  the  roots  and  vegetables  which 
constitute  his  principal  food.  He  is  also  fond 
of  sugar-cane. 

35.  The  Elephant  is  brave  and  affectionate; 
he  is  also  either  grateful  or 
revengeful,  according  as  he 
is  treated.  He  is  fond  of 
music.  In  India  he  has  been 
taught  to  hunt  the  tiger,  fight 
in  battles,  dance  and  perform 

Tiger  Hunting.  tricks  even  on  a  tight-rope. 
Some  elephants  live  to  be  one  hundred  years  old. 


302  Hippopotamus — Rhinoceros. 

36.  Another  very  large  animal,  one  that  is 
much  longer  than  the  elephant,  but  not  so  high, 
is  the  HIP-PO-POT'A-MUS. 

37.  These  animals  are  quite  gentle,  except 
when  hungry ;  but  if  you  could  see  their  huge 
jaws  open  a  distance   of  two  feet   in  width, 
showing  teeth  a  foot  in  length,  you  would  be 
horrified,  especially  when  you   would  see  the 
immense  quantities  of  vegetable  food  they  re- 
quire. 

38.  The  warm  waters  of  the  Nile  and  other  rivers  of 
Africa  are  much  frequented  by  them ;  and  because  they  are 
able  to  live  either  on  the  land  or  in  the  water,  they  are 
said  to  be  am-phib'i-ous. 

39.  The    RHI-NOC'E-ROS   is,  like  the  hippo- 
potamus,  a  very    large,  slow,   stupid,  amphib- 
ious animal.     It  is 
distinguished  by  its 
short,     thick     legs, 
heavy     body,     and 
large,  curved   horn 
at   the    end   of    its 

Bhinoceros  and  Hippopotamus.        snOUt.         ItS    hide    IS 

so  hard,  thick  and  folded  that  swords,  spears, 
bullets,  and  the  claws  of  the  lion  or  the  tiger 
have  little  or  no  effect.  It  is  found  in  Africa, 
Asia,  Java  and  Sumatra.  The  weight  of  a  large 


Beaver — Muskrat.  303 

rhinoceros  is  about  three  tons ;  of  an  elephant, 
five  tons. 

40.  The  BEAVER,  also  an  amphibious  animal, 
is  remarkable  for  its  activity,  industry,  and  the 
wonderful  instinct  it  possesses  for  building  its 
house. 

41.  You  cannot  imagine  how  this  is  done.     They  com- 
mence by  cutting  or  rather  gnawing  down  trees,  their  only 
instrument  being  their  teeth.      They  cut  in  such  a  way 
that  the  trees  shall  fall  precisely  where  they  want  them. 
They  next  float  them  to  the  spot  where  they  intend  to  fix 
their  dwelling,  and  construct  a  dam.     They  always  select 
trees  which  are  up  stream,  so  that  the  logs  may  be  floated 
down  by  the  current. 

42.  After  the  dam  is  completed,  which  is  the  common 
property  of  the  beavers,  they  form  into  small  societies  and 
build  their  private   residences !     They  make  them  very 
strong,  by  a  sort  of  mortar  or  mud,  which  they  know  well 
how  to  mix.     They  are  therefore  masons  and  carpenters 
at  the  same  time.     This  work  is  all  done  at  night. 

43.  The  beavers  store  bark  for  food  in  these  houses, 
each   apartment  having  its  own  storehouse.     If   danger 
comes  to  them,  they  sound  the  alarm  with  their  tail,  giving 
one  to  four  blows. 

44.  The  beaver  inhabits  northern  Asia  and  America. 
It  lives  on  the  bank  of  a  stream,  has  webbed  hind  feet, 
and  is  an  excellent  swimmer  and  diver.     It  is  a  little 
larger  than  a  cat. 

45.  The  fur  of  the  beaver  is  very  valuable. 

46.  The    MUSKRAT   is    something   like   the 
beaver  in  its  size,  form,  habits  and  disposition, 


3°4  Squirrel — Ground  Mole. 

for  both  animals  live  in  companies  in  the  win- 
ter, build  houses  for  their  families,  and  are 
hunted  for  their  fur. 

47.  The  muskrat  does  not,  however,  lay  up  stores  for 
the  winter  like  the  beaver,  but  simply  makes  a  way  under 
the  snow  by  which  it  may  go  in  and  out  for  water  and  the 
roots  upon  which  it  feeds. 

48.  There  is  a  very  small  animal,  the  size  of  a  big,  fat 
mouse,  which  burrows  and  lives  in  the  ground  all  the  time. 
It  is  the  GROUND  MOLE. 

49.  Unlike  the  beaver  and  the  muskrat,  it  keeps  always 
just  under  the  surface  of  the  ground  :    and,  although  it 
annoys  farmers  by  raising  long  ridges  in  their  fields  and 
gardens,  it  does  more  good  than  harm  in  eating  up  worms 
and  insects. 

50.  There  is  another  very  industrious  little 
animal,  which  is  like  the  beaver  in  laying  up 
food  for  the  coming  winter,  in  the  shape  of  nuts 
and  acorns.     Do  any  of  you  know  its  name? 
Yes,  it  is  the  SQUIRREL.      It  makes  a  funny 
appearance  as  it  eats,  using  its  paws  for  hands, 
and  sitting  up  as  you  do  at  the  dinner-table. 

51.  Squirrels  are  found  in  almost  every  country  in  the 
world;   and  sometimes  they  will  migrate  by  thousands. 
(Migrate  means  to  seek  a  new  home). 

52.  It  is  said  that  neither  rocks  nor  rivers  nor  forests 
nor  mountains  will  stop  them ;  and  that  if  they  find  a  river 
too  wide  for  them  to  cross,  they  will  go  back  into  the 
forest  and  provide  themselves  each  with  a  piece  of  bark, 


Squirrel. 

and  then  they  put  out  to  sea,  making  their  tails  serve  as 
sail  and  rudder. 

53.  It  often  happens,  however,  that  they  have  ventured 
too  far,  and  cannot  contend  against  the  waves,  and  there- 
fore never  reach  the  other  side.     The  Laplanders  watch 
for  these  misfortunes  and  seize  them  as  a  prize,  not  only 
because  they  can  sell  their  skins,  but  for  their  flesh,  which 
is  good  for  food. 

54.  The  FLYING  SQUIRREL  is  provided  with  a  strip  of 
skin  which  it  spreads  out  to  enable  it  to  sail  or  glide  easily 
from  a  high  to  a  low  place  among  the  trees.     It  cannot 
use  this  wing-like  skin  as  birds  do.     It  seldom  ventures 
out  till  after  sunset. 

Besides  the  beaver,  muskrat  and  squirrel,  can  you  men- 
tion some  other  and  better  known  little  animals  which  are 
remarkable  for  gnawing  ?  Rats  and  mice. 

55.  The  PORCUPINE  which  is  about  eighteen  or  twenty 
inches  in  length,  also  prefers  the  night  for  its  movements. 


Porcupine —  Ca  met. 


Blackboard  Drawing-:  Porcupine,  20  inches  long;  Flying-  Squir- 
rel, 15  inches  long. 

It  is  very  active  in  searching  for  food,  which  consists  of 
roots,  fruit  and  bark.  It  is  remarkable  for  being  covered 
with  sharp,  strong  quills,  which  it  has  the  power  of 
straightening  out  in  all  directions,  when  attacked,  thus 
causing  great  damage  to  the  mouth  of  any  animal  bold 
enough  to  take  hold  of  it. 

56.  The  CAMEL  is  the  best  fitted  of  all  ani- 
mals  for   traveling   in    desert   places,  because> 
first,  it  can  take  a  week's  supply  of  water  in 
a  peculiar  arrangement  of  cells  connected  with 
the  stomach,  which  can  be  supplied  from  them 
when  the  animal  is  thirsty ;  secondly,  it  can  live 
on  the  scanty  herbage  of  the  desert;   thirdly, 
under  each  foot  is  a  large  cushion-shaped  sub- 
stance to  prevent  it  from  sinking  in  the  sand. 

57.  The  camel  has  been  called  the  "ship  of  the  desert." 
On  the  approach  of  a  sand  storm  in  the  desert,  when 
clouds  of  fine  sand  are  whirled  about  by  high  winds,  the 
camel  displays  great  sagacity  in  burying  his  nose  in  the 
sand  to  avoid  suffocation.    Its  flesh  and  milk  are  used  for 


Ca  mel — L  la  ma. 


307 


Arab  Family  Moving1. 

food,  its  skin  for  making  leather,  and  its  hair  for  making 
clothing ;  therefore  the  camel  is  to  the  Arab  what  the  seal 
is  to  the  Esquimaux,  and  the  reindeer  to  the  Laplanders— 
their  chief  wealth. 

58.  Some  camels  have  one  hump  (the  Dromedary  or 
Arabian  Camel),  and  others  two  (the  Bactrian  Camel  of 
China  and  Central  Asia).  The  former  is  the  one  chiefly 
used  in  Africa.  The  latter  is  larger  and  is  used  more  as 
a  beast  of  burden. 

59  A  similar  but  much  smaller  animal  is  the  LLAMA, 
found  in  the  warm  parts  of  South  America. 


308 


Giraffe  —  Horse  —  Zebra. 


60.  The    tallest   animal    in  the 
world  is  the  GIRAFFE  (ji-raf)  or 
Ca-mero-pard,  which    belongs   to 
the  deserts  of  Africa. 

6 1.  It   is  especially  remarkable 
for  the  great  length  of  its  neck  and 
legs.     In  the  absence  of  grass,  this 
animal  can  make   its  food  of  the 
leaves  of  the  trees.     Its  height  is 
about  eighteen  feet. 

62.  There  is  a  beautiful  animal 
in  Southern  Africa  which  is  about 
the  size  and  shape  of  a  pony,  but 
has  black  and  yellow  stripes  run- 
ning  around    its    body  and    legs. 
What  is  its  name  ?     The  Zebra. 
ZEBRAS  run  wild  in  herds  and  are 
very  difficult  to  tame. 

63.  The  most  useful  animal  to 
man  is  the  HORSE,  which  is  found 

in  almost  every  country  in  the  world  where 
work  is  to  be  done.  Arabia  has  long  been  cel- 
ebrated for  fine  horses.  The  Arab  loves  and 
treats  his  horses  as  if  they  were  his  children. 

64.  There  is  an  animal  of  the  horse  kind  which  is  said 
to  be  the  most  obstinate  and  yet  the  most  patient  of  all 
animals;  what  is  it?  The  DONKEY  will,  however,  do 
more  work  for  the  smallest  pay  than  any  other  animal, 


Tapir — Sloth. 


309 


except,  perhaps,  the  camel.  Although  much  smaller  than 
a  horse,  he  will  take  you  on  long  journeys  and  over 
dangerous  places,  and  be  content  with  a  little  grass  or  even 
a  few  weeds.  Donkeys  are  very  useful  to  the  poor  people 

of  Africa,  Asia  and  Europe. 

65.  The  TAPIR  of   South 
America  is  all  black  or  dark 
brown,  and  looks  like  a  big 
fat  hog ;  and,  like  the  hog,  it 
delights  in  wallowing  in  the 
mud.     It  has  a  short  probos- 
cis or  trunk.      Its  height  is 
between  three  and  four  feet ; 
but  the  tapir  of  Asia  is  larger 
and  has  a  white  back. 

66.  Of  all  animals  the 
slowest    and    laziest    is 
said  to   be  the   SLOTH, 
which  lives  in  South  and 
Central  America. 

67.  While   some    animals 
and  people  too  are  idle  from 
choice,  this  poor  creature  is 
almost  helpless ;  the  slightest 
movement  seems  to  give   it 

great  pain,  judging  from  the  piteous  cry  it  sets  up.  It  is 
therefore  to  be  pitied,  not  blamed.  To  take  fifty  steps 
would  require  a  whole  day.  The  sloth  is  about  the  size 
of  a  large  cat.  Its  hair  is  coarse,  its  arms  very  long,  and 
legs  short,  and  it  is  always  found  hanging  under  a  branch 
of  a  tree,  even  when  asleep.  It  makes  its  food  of  leaves, 
fruit,  and  bark.  Some  sloths  have  two  toes  or  claws  and 


Tapir, length,  5  feet;  Sloth, 
length,  18  inches. 


Opossum — A  rmadillo. 


Blackboard   Drawing-:    Opossum   and  her  Family.      Length   of 
body,  20  inches. 

others  three  on  each  arm  and  leg.     They  seldom  touch 
the  ground  unless  they  tumble. 

68.  Another  very  curious  little  animal  found  in  South 
America  is  the  ARMADILLO;  it  wears  a  kind  of  coat  of 
mail  or  hard,  horn-like  case,  into  which  it  can  retreat  as 
the  snail  or  the  turtle  does  when  it  is  attacked.  In  form, 
head,  and  tail,  it  resembles  a  very  big  rat,  but  it  is  as  long 
as  a  cat.  With  its  sharp  claws,  it  burrows  in  the  earth  for 
worms  and  roots.  Its  flesh  is  used  for  food. 

69.  There  is  another  animal  which  resembles  a  rat  and 
is  as  big  as  a  cat,  and  that  is  the  OPOSSUM,  which  lives 
in  North  and  South  America.  It  usually  hides  away  in 
the  daytime  in  hollow  trees  or  in  the  ground,  and  steals 
out  at  night  in  search  of  food — berries,  fruit,  eggs,  birds, 
etc. ;  sometimes,  too,  killing  chickens  to  suck  their  blood. 
It  is  very  sly ;  when  caught,  it  will  make  believe  dead  and 
cunningly  watch  its  opportunity  to  escape ;  this  is  the 
origin  of  the  expression  "  playing  'possum."  This  animal 
can  cling  tightly  to  the  branch  of  a  tree  by  means  of  its 
long,  strong  tail,  which  it  winds  around  it  when  it  wants 
to  gather  fruit  or  to  seize  a  little  bird  for  its  supper ;  but 


Kangaroo —  White  Bear.  311 

one  of  the  funniest  sights  is  that  of  a  mother-opossum 
running  off  with  all  her  young  ones  on  her  back  holding 
on  by  their  tails,  as  shown  in  the  blackboard  drawing. 

70.  The  animal  which  is  remarkable  for  leap- 
ing  or    springing    is 
the    KANGAROO,    o  f 
Australia. 

}\     rF"v-x'^vi     *<r$Hl     ^^^H^IHMi^^B^i^B 

•JHifiJIESviSfli  ^& 

71.  Its    fore-legs   are  • 
short  and  like  arms,  while 
its   lower   limbs   are  very 
long  and  strong,  thus  en- 
abling it  to  take  leaps  or 
bounds,  upwards  of  twenty 
feet   in  Lngth.     Its  head 
resembles  that  of  a  deer. 
Its  tail  is  so  powerful  that 

a  blow  from  it  has  been 
known  to  break  the  legs  of 
a  man. 

72.  When  sitting,  a  full- 
grown  kangaroo  is  as  tall 
as  a  man.      It  is  hunted 

for  its  skin  and  flesh.  A  *****"«>• 

73.  Like  some  opossums,  it  has  a  pouch  or  pocket  into 
which  its  young  take  refuge  when  alarmed. 

74.  A  bear  is  more  at  home  in  a  cold  coun- 
try and  more  comfortable  in  cold  weather.     The 
WHITE  or  POLAR  BEAR  lives  among  icebergs 
and  feeds  chiefly  on  fishes  and  seals. 

75.  White  bears  are  fierce  and  strong;  and 


312 


The  White  or  Polar  Bear. 


Esquimaux  with  their  dog-s,  capturing  a  White  Bear  for  his  fui 
and  flesh.  Near  the  Icebergs  are  Walruses,  which  are  hunted 
for  their  flesh,  oil,  skin,  and  tusks  of  ivory. 

like  all  other  bears,  have  powerful  paws  and 
long,  sharp  claws  with  which  they  soon  tear 
another  animal  or  a  man  to  pieces.  Savage 
and  dangerous  as  they  are,  the  Esquimaux  of 
the  Arctic  Regions  hunt  and  capture  them 
with  dogs  and  sharp  spears. 

76.  The  flesh  of  these  animals  is  used  for 
food,  but  their  chief  value  lies  in  the  long 
white  furs.  Perhaps  some  of  you  have  seen 
such  skins  or  robes  in  sleighs. 


Black  Bear — Grizzly  Bear.  313 

77.  The   common   BLACK  BEAR  of  North 
America  and  the  BROWN  BEAR  of  Europe  are 
very  much  alike.     They  prefer  the  mountain 
districts.     They  are  not  so  large  nor  so  fierce 
as  some  other  bears,  but  when  attacked,  the/ 
rise  upon  their  hind  feet  and,  if  not  promptly 
dispatched  with  the  long  knife  or  the  bullet, 
the  assailant  is  at  once  hugged  to  death  with 
their  powerful  arms  or  torn  to  shreds  by  their 
sharp  claws. 

78.  Their  food  consists  of  flesh,  wheat,  corn,  roots  and 
vegetables ;  they  are  very  fond  of  honey,  often  climbing 
high  trees  in  search  of  it. 

79.  The  CINNAMON  BEAR  of  Colorado  and  the  region 
west  of  it,  is  named  on  account  of  its  color,  which  is  a 
yellowish  red. 

80.  The  most  savage  of  all  is  the  GRIZZLY 
BEAR,  whose    home  is  in   the    Rocky  Moun- 
tains.    Grizzly  means  somewhat  gray. 

8 1.  Its  strength  and  endurance  are  very  great, 
for  it  has  been  known  to  kill  and  carry  off  a 
buffalo,   to   chase    a   man    for   long   distances, 
capture   and    devour   him.      When    overtaken 
by  hunters,  and  after  receiving  several  of  their 
bullets,  it  makes  desperate  efforts  to  escape  by 
running  and  swimming. 

82.  In  winter,  some  bears  hide  themselves  in  caves, 


Wolf.  Bear.  Am.  Buffalo  or  Bison. 

Blackboard  drawing  of  Wolf's  head,  1O  inches  long- ;  of  Bear's 

head,  15  inches;  of  Buffalo's  head,  24  inches.    (Full  size.) 

hollow  logs,  and  holes  in  the  ice  or  snow,  and  pass  several 
weeks  in  a  kind  of  sleep. 

83.  The   affection  of  bears  for   their  young  is  very 
remarkable.     When  one  of  her  cubs  is  shot,  the  grief  and 
cries  of  the  mother,  her  frantic  efforts  to  arouse  it,  and 
her  refusal  to  leave  it  even  when  the  bullets  are  whistling 
past,  show  her  anxiety  for  her  cub  to  be  far  greater  than 
that  for  herself. 

84.  DEER  are  found  in  all  parts  of  the  world, 

— in  cold,  hot,  and 
temperate  regions ; 
in  forest,  jungle, 
swamp  and  prairie, 
— except  in  Aus- 
tralia. 

85.  Deer  are  very 
timid.     Whenever 

Buffalo  (bison)  and  Deer.  ^ey     discover      an 

enemy  they  are  off  with  the  speed  of  a  race- 
horse. 


Blackboard  drawing:  of  a  Reindeer  (length  7  feet),  and  Sledge 
of  a  Laplander. 

86.  Like  the  buffaloes,  they  are  hunted  for  their  flesh, 
skins,  and  horns,  but  often  only  for  sport. 

87.  The  most  useful  of  these  animals  is  the 
REINDEER,  which  is  a  domestic  animal  in  parts 
of  the  Arctic  regions,  and  constitutes  the  chief 
wealth  of  the  Laplander  of  Northern  Europe. 
His    herds   supply  him  with    milk,  flesh    and 
materials  for  clothing,  and  some  of  these  ani- 
mals are  trained  to  drag  his   sledge  swiftly  and 
for  long  distances  over  the  frozen  snow. 

88.  In  summer  the  reindeer  lives  on  the  scanty  herbage 
and  shrubs  of  those  regions,  and  in  winter,  on  the  mosses 
which  lie  under  the  deep  snow.     These  mosses  are  dis- 
covered by  his  sharp  scent,  and  he  is  able  to  dig  down  to 
them  through  the  snow,  by  means  of  his  great  branching 
horns.     Some  reindeer  are  wild  and  live  in  large  herds. 

89.  Herd  is  a  number  of  animals  assembled  together, 
as  a  herd  of  cattle,  oxen,  horses,  camels,  deer,  elephants, 
or  swine  ;  flock  refers  chiefly  to  smaller  animals  and  birds, 


3 1 6  Deer — Hyena. 

as  sheep,  goats,  or  pigeons;  drove  is  a  number  of  cattk 
driven  to  market. 

90.  Deer  and  some  other  animals  chew  the  cud ;  that 
is,  when  grazing,  they  only  partly  chew  the  food  before 
swallowing  it,  and,  when  they  afterwards  lie  down  or  stand 
still,  they  bring  up  the  same  food  into  their  mouths  again 
to  chew  and  swallow  it  a  second  time.     Such  animals  are 
called  Ruminating  or  Cud-chewing  animals.     They  gen- 
erally have  horns  and  cloven  or  divided  hoofs.      They 
include  the  cow,  ox,  deer,  camel,  giraffe,  goat,  sheep  and 
buffalo. 

91.  Animals  of  the  deer-kind  include  the  Antelope  and 
Gazelle  of  Africa  and  Arabia,  the  Chamois  (sham' me  or 
sham-moi')  of  the  Alps,  and  the  Moose  of  North  America. 

92.  The  HYENA  is  a  savage  and  untamable  animal  of 
Africa  and  the  warm  parts  of  Asia.     It  looks  like  a  very 
large  dog.     Its  teeth  are  wonderfully  strong.     It  eats  the 
flesh  and  bones  of  dead  animals. 


XXVI.     SPELLING   AND   WRITING. 


ANIMALS   WHICH   MOST   RESEMBLE   MAN: 


ANIMALS  OF  THE  MONKEY  KIND  (FOUR-HANDED  INSTEAD  OF 
FOUR-FOOTED)  : 


Review — Spelling —  Writing.         317 

ANIMALS  OF  THE  DOG-KIND: 


THE  CAT-KIND: 


EATERS   OF   FLESH  : 


j  , 

EATERS  OF  GRASS,  AND  CUD-CHEWERS,  WITH  HORNS  AND  CLOVEN 
HOOFS  (TWO  TOES): 


GNAWERS : 


, 


ANIMALS  WITH   FOUR   SOLID   HOOFS: 


AMPHIBIOUS  ANIMALS: 


The  Frog,  Toad,  Alligator  and  Crocodile  (reptiles)  are  also  amphibious. 


318  Adventure  with  Wolves. 


XXVII.    ADVENTURE   WITH   WOLVES. 

|N  the  month  of  March,  when  the  snow  lay 
deep  upon  the  ground,  Lawrence  Temple, 
a  clerk  at  a  lumber  camp  on  the  head- 
waters of  the  Ottawa  River  in  Canada,  was  dis- 
patched to  Ottawa  city,  a  distance  of  some  two 
hundred  miles,  to  report  to  the  agent  of  the  com- 
pany the  quantity  of  timber  that  had  been  got  out, 
and  to  bring  back  a  sum  of  money  to  pay  off  a  num- 
ber of  the  lumbermen. 

2.  Several  of  these  were  about  to  take  up  land  in 
the  new  townships  which  had  been  recently  laid  out 
on  the  upper  Ottawa ;  and  as  Lawrence  had  won 
the  confidence  of  the  company,  he  was  commissioned 
to  bring  back  the  money  required  for  making  the 
payments.     He  was  to  ride  as  far  as  the  town  of 
Pembroke,  about  half  way,  and   leaving  his  horse 
there  to  rest,  was  to  go  on  to  Ottawa  in  the  stage. 
He  selected  for  the  journey  the  best  animal  in  the 
stable — a  tall,  sinewy  horse  of  rather  ungainly  figure, 
but  with  an  immense  amount  of  endurance  and  pluck. 

3.  He  reached  Ottawa  safely,  and  transacted  his 
business  satisfactorily.      Having   drawn  the  money 
from  the  bank,  chiefly  in    English  sovereigns  and 
Mexican   dollars,   Lawrence  set   out  on   his  return 
journey. 

4.  At  Pembroke,  he  mounted  again   his  faithful 
steed  for  his  ride  of  over  a  hundred  miles  to  the 
camp.     The  silver  he  carried  in  two  leathern  bags 


Returning  to  the  Camp.  319 

in  the  holster  of  the  saddle,  and  the  gold  in  a  belt 
around  his  waist.  He  also  carried  for  defence  one 
of  the  newly-invented  Colt's  revolvers. 

5.  Toward  the  close  of  the  second  day,  he  was 
approaching  the  end  of  his  journey,  and  indulging 
in  a  pleasant  anticipation  of  the  feast  of  venison  he 
should  enjoy,  and  of  the  refreshing  slumber  on  the 
fragrant  pine-boughs,  earned  by  continued  exercise 
in  the  open  air.     The  moon  was  near  the  full,  but 
partially  obscured  by  fleecy  clouds. 

6.  As  he  came  to  a  slight  clearing  in  the  woods, 
he  observed  two  long,  lithe  animals  spring  out  of 
the  woods  toward  his  horse.     He  thought  they  were 
a  couple  of  those  large,  shaggy  deer-hounds  which 
are  sometimes  employed  near  the  lumber  camps  for 
hunting  cariboo,  and  looked  around  for  the  hunter, 
who,  he  thought,  could  not  be  far  off. 

7.  He  was  surprised,  however,  not  to    hear   the 
deep-mouthed  bark  characteristic  of  these  hounds, 
but  instead  a  guttural  snarl,  which  appeared  to  affect 
the  horse  in  a  most  unaccountable  manner.    A  shiver 
seemed  to  convulse  his  frame,  and  shaking  himself 
he  started  off  on  a  long,  swinging  trot,  which  soon 
broke  into  a  gallop. 

8.  But  his  best  speed  could  not  outstrip  that  of 
the  creatures  which  bounded  in  long  leaps  by  his 
side,  occasionally  springing  at  him,  their  white  teeth 
glistening  in  the  moonlight,  and  snapping  when  they 
closed  like  a  steel-trap.     When  he  caught  the  fiery 
flashing  of  their  eyes,  there  came  the  blood-curdling 
revelation  that  these  were  no  hounds,  but  hungry 
wolves,  that  bore  him  such  sinister  company. 


320  Encounter  with  the  Wolves. 

9.  His  only  safety,  he  knew,  was  in  the  speed  of 
his  horse ;  and  he  was  handicapped  in  this  race  for 
life  with  about  fi-ve-and-twenty  pounds  of  silver  in 
each  holster. 

10.  Seeing  that  the  horse  was  flagging  under  this 
tremendous  pace,  he  resolved  to  abandon  the  money, 
so  he  dropped  both  bags  on  the  road.     To  his  sur- 
prise   the   animals  stopped.     He    could   hear  them 
snarling  over  the  stout,  leather  bags  ;  but,  lightened 
of  his  load,  the  horse  sprang  forward  on  a  splendid 
gallop. 

11.  He  was  beginning  to  hope  that  he  had  fairly 
distanced  the  brutes,  when  their  horrid  yelp  and 
melancholy,  long-drawn  howl  grew  stronger  on  the 
wind  ;  and  soon  they  were  again  abreast  of  the  horse. 

12.  He  now  threw  down  his  thick,  leather  gaunt- 
lets, with  the  hope  of  delaying  them ;  but   it  only 
caused  a   detention    of  a   few  minutes  while   they 
greedily  devoured  them. 

13.  He  was  rapidly  nearing  the  camp  ;  if  he  could 
keep  them  at  bay  for  twenty  or  thirty  minutes  more, 
he  would  be  safe.     As  a  last  resort,  he   drew  his 
revolver,  scarcely  hoping,  in  his  headlong  pace,  to  hit 
the  bounding,  leaping  objects  at  his  side.    The  horse, 
too,  was  exceedingly  nervous ;  and  if  he  should  miss, 
and  in  the  movement  be  dismounted,  he  knew  that 
the  maw  of  those  ravenous  beasts  would  be  his  grave. 

14.  One  of  the  brutes  now  made  a  spring  for  the 
horse's  throat,  but  failing  to  grasp  it,  fell  on  the 
right  side  of  the  animal.     Gathering  himself  up,  he 
bounded  in  front,   and   made  a  dash  at  the  rider, 
catching  and  clinging  to  the  horse's  right  shoulder. 


Safe  Arrival  in  Camp.  321 

15.  Lawrence   could   feel  his  hot   breath    on   his 
naked  hand.     The  fiendish  glare  of  those  eyes  he 
never  forgot.    He  felt  that  the  supreme  moment  had 
come.     One  or   other  of  them   must  die.     In  five 
minutes  more  he  would  be  safe  in  camp,  or  else — 
and  he  shuddered. 

1 6.  He  lifted  up  his  heart  in  prayer  to  God,  and 
then  felt  strangely  calm  and  collected. 

17.  The   muzzle  of  his  revolver  almost    touched 
the  brute's  nose.     He  pulled  the  trigger.     A  flash, 
a  crash !  the   green  eyes  blazed  with  tenfold  fury ; 
the  huge  form  fell  heavily  to  the  ground,  and  in  the 
same  moment  the  horse  reared  almost  upright,  nearly 
unseating  his  rider  and  shaking  the  pistol  from  his 
hand,  and  then,  plunging  forward,  rapidly  covered 
the  road  in  his  flight. 

1 8.  As  Lawrence  had  expected,  the  other  famishing 
beast   remained  to  devour  its  fellow.     He  galloped 
into  the  camp,  almost  fell  from  his  saddle,  and  stag- 
gered to  the  rude,  log  shanty,  where  the  blazing  fire 
and  song  and  story  beguiled  the  winter  night,  scarcely 
able  to  narrate  his  peril  and  escape. 

19.  After  light  refreshments, — for  he  had  lost  all 
relish  for  food, — he  went  to  bed,  to  start  up  often 
through  the  night  under  the  glare  of  those  horrible 
eyes,  and  to  renew  the  horror  he  had  undergone. 

20.  In  the  morning,  returning  with  a  number  of 
the  men  to  look  for  the  money,  he  found  the  remains 
of  the  slain  wolf,  and  some  distance  back,  the  straps 
and  buckles  of  the  money-bags,  and  the  silver  coins 
scattered  on  the  ground,  and  partially  covered  by 
the  snow. 


322          The  Blind  Man  and  his  Dog. 


XXVIII.    THE   BLIND   MAN'S  DOG. 


The  Blind  Man  and  his  Dog-. 


ABOUT 

Christmas 
time  after 
several 
hours  of 
hard  work 
I  found 
on  going 
out  that 
the  weath 
er  had  be- 
come bit- 
terly coldc 
2.  Run- 
ning along 


the  poorly-lighted  road,  leading  to  the  city  of  Lon- 


The  Blind  Man  and  his  Dog.         323 

don,  I  nearly  stumbled  against  a  man  standing  at 
the  corner  of  the  street ;  luckily,  the  glitter  of  metal 
on  his  cap  caught  my  eye,  and  looking  at  this  I  saw 
that  it  was  a  brass  plate  with  the  word  "  Blind " 
engraved  on  it. 

He  had  with  him  a  little  dog  which  kept  at  his  side, 
eagerly  watching  him ;  the  dog  was  in  the  roadway 
while  his  master  kept  tapping  the  edge  of  the  pave- 
ment with  his  stick  and  intently  listening  for  the 
sound  of  wheels. 

4.  At  last  the  man  said  "  Go ; "  and  in  an  instant 
the  little  dog  ran  across  the  road,  barking,  as  much 
as  to  say,  Come  on. 

5.  I  was  pleased  to  see  that  the  two  arrived  quite 
safe  at  the  other  side.     I  at  once  entered  into  con- 
versation with  the  blind  man.     I  will  now  give  you 
his  history  as  he  told  it  to  me : — 

6.  "  My  name  is  James  Stocks.     I  am  seventy- 
eight  years  of  age.     I  have  been  blind  three  years 
next  April.     My  dog  is  as  good  to  me  as  a  pair  of 
eyes.      I  call  her  *  Puss/     She  is  two  years  and  a, 
half  old,  and  I  gave  two  shillings  for  her  to  a  stran- 
ger.    A  blind  man  told  the  stranger  to  bring  her  to 
me,  as  he  knew  I  wanted  a  'guide-dog.      I  had  to 
train  her  myself.     I  took  her  to  the  safest  place  I 
knew,  that  is,  by  the  side  of  a  long  wall. 

7.  "  At  first  she  would  only  lag  behind  me,  but  I 
took  her  out  for  half  an  hour  every  day,  and  in  two 
or  three  weeks  she  learned  to  lead  me  quite  well.    It 
took  me  longer  to  trust  to  the  dog  than  it  did  for 
the  dog  to  learn  to  lead  me  along,  and  now  I  can  go 
anywhere  with  her. 


324          The  Blind  Man  and  his  Dog. 

8.  "  She  knows  her  way  as  well  as  I  do,  and  / 
have  never  been  run  over  since  I  have  had  my  Puss. 
I  feed  her  on   meat,  and  I  give  her  an   extra  half- 
pennyworth  whenever    I    can   afford    it.     I    cannot 
afford  anything  better  for  her,  but  she  will  eat  cakes, 
and  almost  anything  that  the  children  give  her  in 
the  streets.     She  has    had   several  pieces  of  plum- 
pudding  given  to  her  this  Christmas  time. 

9.  "  I   come    out  with    her  every  morning  from 
twelve  to  three,  and  at  night  from  six  to  ten,  and  I 
stand  here  selling  lead-pencils,  and  sometimes  the 
people  give  me  a  few  half-pence. 

10.  "  When  it's  very  cold  I  carry  a  little  chair  in 
a  bag  at  my  back,  for  Puss  to  sit  down  upon  to  keep 
her  off  the  cold,  wet  ground.     I  also  tie  a  little  bit 
of  carpet  on  her,  as  I  feel  a  great  deal  for  my  little 
dog.     I  always  carry  a  little  water  for  her  in  a  bottle 
in  my  pocket  ;  I  give  it  to  her  in  a  penny  tin-mug, 
and,  bless  you,  the  little  dog  knows  her  bottle  and 
tin-mug  when  I  draw  them  out  of  my  pocket. 

11.  "As  I  stand  at  my  post,  Puss  sits  by  my  side 
as  quietly  as  possible ;  but  when  she  sees  any  one 
looking  at  me  she  stands  up  on  her  hind  legs,  wags 
her  tail,  and  asks  for  something  for  me.     I  can't  keep 
her  down ;  just  you  try  her  now,  sir,  and  see  if  she 
will  do  it." 

12.  So  I  rose,  and  went  toward  the  blind  man. 
In  an  instant,  Puss,  which  had  been  curled  up  at  her 
master's  feet,  was  upon  her  hind  legs  begging  for 
him,  while  every  now  and  then  she  gave  a  sharp 
yap,  as  much  as  to  say,  "  Do  give  us  something ;  we 
are  both  very  poor."  BUCKLAND'S  LOG-BOOK. 


Animals  and  Birds  of  South  A  merica.  325 


Homes  and  Comparative  Size  of  Animals,  etc. :  Those  shown  on 
this  and  the  seven  pages  following  are  drawn  on  a  SCALE  OF  ABOUT  FIVE  FEET 
TO  THE  INCH,  which  appears  on  the  margin. 

The  Ta'pir 

of  South 
America  is 
black  and  re- 
sembles a  hog. 

(p.  309.) 

The  Llama 

(la/i'mah)  in- 
habits the  An- 
des (P.  307.) 
TheCond'or 
also  inhabits 
the  Andes. 
(P.  250.) 

The  Arma- 
dillo is  pro- 
tected by  a 
kind  of  shell. 
(P.  310.) 

The  Ant- 
eater  is  re- 
markable for 
its  long,  slen- 
der tongue 
and  bushy  taiL 

The  Rhea 
is  called  the 
American  os- 
trich. (P.  2  59.) 

Penquins  are  birds  of  the  Antarctic  coasts.  (P.  265.) 


326        Animals,  etc.,  of  South  America. 


The 
Cougar, 
(koo'gar] 
and  the 

Jaguar',  which    is   larger, 
destroy  and  devour  cattle, 
horses,  etc.     They  belong  to 
the  cat  family.     (P.  297.) 

The  Sloth    is  usually  seen 
hanging  under  a  branch.     It  is  slower 


It  is  about 


in  its  movements  than  any  other  animal, 
the  size  of  a  cat.     (P.  309.) 

The  Opossum  is  noted  for  its  shyness.     It  steals 
chickens,  birds,  eggs,  etc.,  at  night,  for  food.    (P.  310.) 
The  Toucan  (too'kari)  has  an  enormous  bill  which 
is  well  adapted  to  eating  fruit.     (P.  256.) 

Monkeys  inhabit  the  warm  countries  all  over  the 
world.     In  South  America,  they  are  remarkable  for 
their  power  of  hanging  and  swing- 
ing by  their  tails.     (P.  298.) 
The  Anaconda  is  remarkable 
for  its   power 
of  killing  and 
swallowing 
deer,  mon- 
keys, etc. 


Animals  of  Europe. 


327 


The  Fox  and 

Wolf  belong  to 
the  dog  family. 
The    Wolf   is 
larger,    and, 
when  hungry,  very 
dangerous.       It 
hunts     man     and 
horse     f  o  r    many 
miles  and  attacks  them 
very  savagely.  (P.  318.) 
The  Brown  Bear  is 
noted  for   passing   the 
winter  in  a  cave  or  hol- 
low tree  in  a  kind  of  sleep,  taking 
during  all  that  time  neither  food  nor 
drink.     It   is  found  in  the  forests  and  mountains  of 
both  Europe  and  Asia.     (See  p.  313.) 
The  Tbex  has  long  horns  and  resembles  a  goat. 
The  Chamois  (shammy],  which  is  smaller  than  the 
Ibex,  also   resembles  a  goat,  but  has  small  horns. 
It  is  hunted  among  the  Alps  of  Switzerland.     Its 
skin  is  made  into  a  soft  kind  of  leather. 

The  Wild  Boar  is  remarkable  for  its  great 
tusks  or  teeth,  and  when  hunted  becomes 
very  savage  and  dangerous. 

The  Lam'mergeyer,  a  kind  of  vulture, 
inhabits  especially  the  Alps  and  Pyrenees, 
where  it  is  very  destructive  to  sheep,  cham- 
ois, etc.,  which  it  captures  or  destroys  by 
causing  them  to  leap  over  precipices ;  then 
it  gorges  itself  with  their  flesh. 


328 


Comparative  Size  of 


The  Sable  (i),  White  Ermine  (a), 
Wolverine      (3), 
and   Arctic  Fox 
(4)    inhabit    the 
Arctic    regions, 
and  are  valuable 
for  their  fur. 
Eider  Ducks  (5) 
(i'der)  are  valua- 
ble for  their  soft 
down ;  and  the  Musk  Deer  (6) 
for  their  fragrant  musk. 
The  Bactrian  Camel,  (7)  which  has  two  humps,  is 
found  chiefly  in  Asia :  it  is  used  as  a  beast  of  burden. 
(See  pages  306  and  307.) 

The  Jack'al  (8)  is 
wild,  and  resembles 
a  small  wolf  or  dogt 
(See  p.  296.) 

The  Wild  Boar. 
(9.)  (See  p.  336.) 

The  Peli- 
can (10)  in. 
habits  warm 
countries  and 
lives  on  fishc 
(See  p.  262.) 

The  Yak 
(i  i)  is  found 
in  the  central 
parts  of  Asia. 
(See  p.  295.) 


Animals  of  Asia. 


329 


The  Ele- 
phant and 
Tiger  are 
natural  ene- 
mies,  and 
fierce  bat- 
tles are  oft- 
en fought  by 
them.  Tame 
el  eph  ant  s 
be  1 o  n  g  to 
Southern  Asia.  (P.  300. 

The  Ourang-Outang  is 
found  in  Southern  Asia  and  neigh- 
boring islands.     (P.  298.) 

The  Leopard  is  found  in  Asia  and  Africa.  Like 
the  panther  and  jaguar,  it  is  spotted,  and  belongs  to 
the  cat  family.  (P.  297.) 

The  Co'bra  de  Capel'lo  is  a  small  but  very  poison- 
ous snake.  The  largest 
serpent  in  the  world  is 
the  python,  which 
is  about  thirty  feet 
long. 

The  Eastern  Buf- 
falo, which  is  very  un- 
like the  American,  is 
easily  tamed  and  made 
useful.  (Pp.  294,  295.) 

The  Zebu  is  distin- 
guished by  a  hump 
over  the  shoulders. 


330 


Comparative  Size  of 


The  Crocodile  of  the 
Nile  is  much  larger  than  the 
alligator  of  America.  Its 
length  is  twenty  to  twen- 
ty-five feet.  It  feeds 
chiefly  on  fish,  but  it 
does  not  hesitate  to 
attack  and  devour  a 
man  who  might  ven 


ture 


too  near.  It 
lays  its  eggs  on 
the  shore  near  the 
water  as  a  turtle 
does.  Crocodiles 
and  alligators  are  found  only  in  the  waters  of  warm 
countries. 

The  Arabian  Camel  is  very  useful  in  Asia  and 
Africa,  where  it  is  called  "  The  Ship  of  the  Desert." 
The  Koo'doo,  or  African  antelope,  has  long,  cu- 
riously twisted  horns.     The  Hyena  is  a  savage  ani- 
mal of  Africa  and  Asia. 


Arabian  Camel.    (P.  306.) 


Koodoo. 


Hyena 


Animals  of  Africa. 


331 


The  Gnu  (or  gnoo,  nit)  a  kind  of  antelope,  some- 
what resembles  a  horse,  except  that  it  has  horns. 
These  animals  live  in  herds  in  South  Africa,  and 
often  associate  with  zebras,  (p.  308,)  giraffes,  and 
ostriches,  (p.  258,)  forming  a  large  army  of  wild 
creatures.  (P.  295.) 

The  Puff  Adder,  also  of  South  Africa,  is  one  of 
the  most  deadly  of  poisonous  snakes,  even  horses 
dying  a  few  hours  after  they  are  bitten.  The  natives 
procure  poison  from  its  teeth,  and  touch  the  heads 
of  their  fearful  arrows  with  it. 

The  Red  Flamingo  is  remarkable  for  the  length 
of  its  neck  and  legs.  Its  color  is  mostly  of  a  bril- 
liant scarlet,  (p.  263.) 

The  Sacred  This  is  mostly 
white  with  some  black  feath- 
ers. It  is  found  in  Egypt, 
where  like  the  crocodile  and 
some  other  creatures,  it  has 
been  held  sacred.  It  is  not  so 
large  as  the  flamingo.  (P.  262.) 


332 


Animals  of  Africa. 


The  Comparative  size  of  animals  may  be  seen  on  this  and  the 
seven  preceding  pages,  because  they 
are  all  accurately  drawn  according  to 
the  same  scale — about  five  feet  to  the 
inch. — This  scale  may  be  found  on  the 
margin  of  this  page,  and  the  length, 
height,  etc.,  of  any   animal,  bird,  or 
reptile  here  shown  may,  therefore,  be 
known  at  a  glance  ;  as,  this  gorilla  is 
about  5  feet  high.     What  is  the  height 
of  the  lion  ?    Elephant  ?    Rhino- 
ceros ?    What 
is  the  length 
of  the   lion? 
Rhinoceros? 
Hippopota- 
mus? 


Elephants  Piling  Timber.  333 


XXXIII.    THE   ELEPHANT. 

]N  the  timber-yards  of  Birmah,  which  are 
large  and  numerous,  the  usefulness  of  the 
elephant  is  most  wonderfully  illustrated ; 
for  these  uncouth  monsters  are  employed  in  drawing, 
stacking,  and  shifting  the  immense  teak *  logs — some 
of  them  weighing  as  much  as  two  tons.  A  log  that 
forty  men  could  scarcely  move,  the  elephant  will 
quietly  lift  upon  his  tusks,  and  holding  it  there  with 
his  proboscis,  will  carry  it  to  whatever  part  of  the 
yard  he  may  be  directed  by  his  driver. 

2.  They   will  also,   using  trunk,  feet,  and  tusks, 
pile  the  huge  timbers  as  evenly  and  correctly  as  one 
could  wish.     What  surprised  us  the  most  was  to  see 
the  elephants  select  and  pick  out  particular  timbers 
from  the  center  of  an  indiscriminate  heap  of  more 
than   a   hundred    simply   at   the    command   of  the 
driver. 

3.  The  huge  beasts  are  directed  by  the  drivers,  by 
spoken  orders,  pressure  of  the  feet  on  the  neck,  and 
the  customary  use  of  the  elephant  goad.2 

4.  The  elephant  knows  his  own  power,  and  gener- 
ally refuses  to  lift  more  than  his  tusks  can  safely 
bear,  for  if  these  should  be  broken  off  close  to  the 
head  death  would  ensue.3 


1  Teak,  teek,  timber  used  in  shipbuilding. 

2  Goad,  gode,  a  pointed  instrument. 
8  Ensue,  en-su',  not  soo,  follow. 


334      The  White  Elephant  Reverenced. 

5.  Perhaps  it  may  be  well  to  state  why  the  white 
elephant  is  so  specially  reverenced.1     It  is  believed 
that    Buddha2    is   the  divine  emanation    from    the 
Deity,3  and  must  necessarily  abide  for  some  time  in 
that  grand  incarnation4  of  purity  which   is   repre- 
sented by  the  white  elephant ;  that  there  is  no  spot 
in    the  heavens  above,  or  the  earth  below,  or  the 
waters   under   the    earth   which    is   not   visited   by 
Buddha ;  that  his  tarrying   may  be   longer  in    the 
white  elephant  than  in  any  other  abode  ;  and  that 
in  the  possession  of  the  sacred  creature  they  may 
possess  the  presence  of  Buddha  himself.     The  so- 
called  white  elephant  is  not  white.      It  is  of  a  dull 
brownish-yellow  color — white  only  by  contrast  with 
his  darker  brother. 

6.  Siamese  are  known  to  whisper  their  secrets  into 
an  elephant's  ear,  and  to  ask  a  solution  of  their  per- 
plexities by  some  sign  or  movement. 

1  Reverenced,  rev'er-ensd,  to  regard  with  fear,  respect,  and  affec- 
tion. 

2  Buddha,  bood'da,  a  heathen  god,  worshipped  in  India  and  China. 

3  The  Deity,  de'i-te,  the  Supreme  Being  or  God.     False  deities 
are  numerous  in  Asia  and  Africa. 

4  Incarnation,  in-kar-na'shun,  a  body  of  flesh. 

Buddhism  is  a  false  religion  of  Southeastern  Asia,  founded  many  centuries 
ago  by  Buddha,  who  is  now  worshipped  there.  A  recent  traveler  in  Siam 
(Frank  Vincent)  thus  describes  one  of  their  temples  and  images,  "  After  a  long 
ride,  we  reached  a  cavern  in  the  side  of  a  hill,  styled  the  '  Cave  of  Idols,'  con- 
sisting of  several  chambers  connected  by  narrow  passages,  all  requiring  to 
be  illuminated  by  torches.  Its  sides  within  were  lined  with  rows  of  gilt  Bud- 
dhas,  and  at  the  end  of  one  of  the  halls  is  a  huge  reclining  image.  The  trees 
about  the  mouth  of  the  cave  were  filled  with  chattering  and  grinning  monkeys. 
At  sight  of  us  they  scampered  from  branch  to  branch  and  from  tree  to  tree,  and 
then  would  sit  still  and  steadily  observe  us  in  a  most  amusing  manner  for  an 
entire  minute  at  a  time.  We  inspected  a  colossal  reclining  image  built  of 
brick  and  mortar  and  covered  with  thick  gold  leaf;  it  was  clothed  with  yellow 
garments.  The  length  is  135  feet— its  feet  being  seven  feet  in  width,  and  its 
ears  ten  feet  in  length. 


The  Pomp  of  White  Elephants.       335 

7.  The  last  "  white  elephant  "  which  reached  Bang- 
kok,  the  capital  of  Siam,  was  caught  in  the  woods. 
When  the  king  heard  of  it,  he  and  his  court  went  a 
long  way  into  the  country  to  meet  him,  and  he  was 
conducted  with  a  grand  procession,  much  pomp  and 
music,  and  flying  banners  to  the  capital.     There  a 
grand  mansion  awaited  him,  and  several  of  the  lead- 
ing nobility  were   appointed    his    custodians.     The 
walls  were  painted  to  represent  forests,  no  doubt  to 
remind  him  of  his  native  haunts,  and  to  console  him 
in  his  absence  from  them.     All  his  wants  were  sedu- 
lously provided  for,  and  in  his  "  walks  abroad  "  he 
was   escorted  by  music   and  caparisoned   by  costly 
vestments.     His  grandest  promenades  were  to  bathe 
in  the  river,  when  other  elephants  were  in  attend- 
ance, honored  by  being  made  aids  to  his  grandeur. 

8.  Now  and  then  the  two  sovereigns  sought  his 
presence,  but  I  did  not  learn  that  his  dignity  con- 
descended to  oblige  them  with  any  special  notice. 
Everything  associated  with  maj'esty  and  rank  bore 
his  image.     A  white  elephant  is  the  badge  of  dis- 
tinction.   On  the   royal  flags  and  seals,  metals  and 
coins — everywhere  the  white  elephant  is  the  national 
emblem. 

9.  Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  in  Siam  and  Birmah 
the    " white   elephant"    is   a   grave   and   important 
appendage  of  state,  and  that  the  sovereign  of  each 
claims  the  coveted  and  pompous  titles  of  "  Lord  of 
the    Celestial    Elephant,"    and    "Master   of    Many 
White  Elephants." 

From  Vincent's  "LAND  OF  THE  WHITE  ELEPHANT." 


336  A  Wild  Boar  Hunt. 


XXXIV.    ADVENTURES   IN  AFRICA 

MERGING  again  into  the  broad  sunlight,  I 
strolled  further  in  search  of  something  to 
shoot.  Presently,  I  saw,  feeding  quietly  in 
the  forest  which  bounded  a  valley  on  the  left,  a  huge, 
reddish-colored  wild  boar,  armed  with  most  horrid 
tusks.  Leaving  Kalulu,  my  attendant,  crouched 
down  behind  a  tree,  and  my  solar  helmet  behind 
another  close  by,  that  I  might  more  safely  stalk  the 
animal,  I  advanced  toward  him,  and  after  taking  a 
deliberate  aim  fired. 

2.  As  if  nothing  whatever  had  hurt  him,  the  ani- 
mal made  a  furious  bound,  and  then  stood  with  his 
bristles  erected  and  his  tufted  tail  curved  over  the 
back — a  most  formidable  brute  in  appearance. 

3.  While  he  was  thus  listening  and  searching  the 
neighborhood  with  his  keen,  small  eyes,  I  planted 
another  shot  in  his  chest.     Instead  of  falling,  how- 
ever, as  I  expected,  he  charged  furiously  in  the  di- 
rection the  bullet  had  come,  and  as  he  rushed  past 
me,  another  ball  was  fired,  which  went  right  through 
him ;  but  still  he  kept  on,  until,  within  six  or  seven 
yards    from    the   trees   behind    which    Kalulu    was 
crouching,  he  suddenly  halted,  and  then  dropped. 

4.  As  I  was  about  to  advance  on  him  with  my 
knife,  he  suddenly  started  up ;  his  eyes  had  caught 
sight  of  the  little  boy  Kalulu,  and  were  then  almost 
immediately  afterward  attracted  by  the  sight  of  the 
snowy  helmet. 


A  Lion  Hunt.  337 

5.  These  strange  objects  proved  too  much  for  the 
boar,  for,  with  a  terrible  grunt,  he  darted  into  a  thick 
brake  from  which  it  was  impossible  to  oust  him  ;  and 
as  it  was  getting  late,  and  the  camp  was  about  three 
miles  away,  I  was  reluctantly  obliged  to  return  with- 
out the  meat. 

6.  On  our  way  to  camp  we  were  accompanied  by 
a  large  animal  which  persistently  followed  us  on  our 
left.     It  was  too   dark   to   see   plainly,  but  a  large 
form  was  visible.     Late  that  night,  we  were  startled 
by  the  roar  of  a  lion,  in  close  proximity  to  the  camp. 

HENRY  M.  STANLEY. 


XXXV.     A   LION    HUNT. 

ICON  after  breakfast  I  took  Khamisi  and 
Kalulu  with  me  for  a  hunt.  After  a  long 
walk  we  arrived  near  a  thin  jungle,  where  I 
discovered  the  tracks  of  several  animals — boar,  ante- 
lope, elephant,  rhinoc'eros,  hippopot'amus,  and  an 
unusual  number  of  imprints  of  the  lion's  paw. 

2.  Suddenly  I  heard  Khamisi  say,  "  Master,  mas- 
ter! here  is  a  'simta*  (lion);"  and  he  came  up  to 
me  trembling  with  excitement  and  fear,  to  point  out 
the  head  of  a  beast,  which  could  be  seen  just  above 
the  tall  grass,  looking  steadily  at  us. 

3.  It  immediately  afterward   bounded  from   side 
to  side,  but  the  grass  was  so  high  that  it  was  impos- 
sible to  tell  exactly  what  it  was. 


338  The  Kangaroo. 

4.  Taking  advantage  of  a  tree  in  my  front,  I  crept 
quietly   onward,    intending    to   rest  the  heavy  rifle 
against  it,  as  I  was  very  weak  from  the  effects  of  sev- 
eral fevers. 

5.  But   my  surprise  was  great  when   I   cautiously 
laid  it  against  the  tree,  and  then  directed  its  muzzle 
to  the  spot  where  I  had  seen  him  stand. 

6.  Looking  further  away,  I  saw  the  animal  bound 
along  at  a  great  rate,  and  that  it  was  a  lion  ;  the  noble 
monarch  of  the  forest  was  in  full  flight !     From  that 
moment  I  ceased  to  regard  him  as  the  "  mightiest 
among  the  brutes."  HENRY  M.  STANLEY. 


XXXVI.     THE    KANGAROO. 

WONDER  if  my  young  readers  know  the 
origin  of  the  name  kangaroo  ?  When  Cap- 
tain Cook  first  discovered  Australia  he  saw 
some  natives  on  the  shore,  one  of  them  holding  a 
dead  animal  in  his  hand. 

2.  The  captain  sent  a  boat's  crew  ashore  to  pur- 
chase the  animal,  and  finding,  on  receiving  it,  that  it 
was  a  beast  quite  new  to  him,  he  sent  the  boatswain 
back  to  ask  the  natives  its  name.  "  What  do  you  call 
this  animal?"  said  the  sailor  to  the  native.  The 
nati/e  shook  his  head  and  answered,  "  Kan-ga-roo'," 
which  means  in  Australian  lingo,  "  I  don't  under- 
stand." When  the  sailor  returned  to  the  ship  the 
captain  said.  "  Well,  and  what's  the  name  of  the  ani- 
mal ?  "  "  Please  sir,  the  black  party  says  it's  a  '  Kan- 
garoo.' "  The  beast  has  kept  that  name  ever  since. 


Tke  Dogs  of  Constantinople.          339 


XXXVII.     DOGS   OF   CONSTANTINOPLE. 

JONSTANTINOPLE  is  an  immense  dog  ken- 
nel ;  every  one  makes  the  remark  as  soon  as 
he  arrives.  The  dogs  constitute  a  second 
population  of  the  city,  less  numerous,  but  not  less 
strange  than  the  first.  Everybody  knows  how  the 
Turks  love  and  protect  them  ;  and  many  provide  for 
them  in  their  wills,  as  they  do  for  the  birds. 

2.  Not  one  of  the  innumerable  dogs  of  Constanti- 
nople has   a  master.     They  therefore  form  a  great 
vagabond    republic,  collarless,    nameless,    houseless, 
and  lawless.     The  street  is  their  abode,  there  they 
dig  little  dens,  where  they  sleep,  eat,  and  die;  no 
one  thinks  of  disturbing  their   occupations  or  their 
repose. 

3.  They  are  masters  of  the  highways.     While  in 
our    cities  it    is  the  dog    that    makes  way  for  the 
horseman  or  the  foot  passenger,  there  it  is  the  peo- 
ple, the  horses,  the  camels,   and  the  donkeys  that 
make  way  for  the  dogs. 

4.  In  the  most  frequent'ed  parts  of  Stam'boul  four 
or  five  dogs,  curled  up  asleep  in  the  middle  of  the 
road,  will  cause  the  entire  population  of  a  quarter  to 
turn  out  of  the  way  for  half  a  day.     They  are  with 
difficulty  disturbed  even  when  in  a  crowded  street  a 
carriage  with  four  horses  is  seen  coming  like  the 
wind ;  then,  at  the  very  last  moment,  they  rise  and 
transport  their  lazy  bones  a  foot  or  two  out  of  the 
way — just  enough  to  save  their  lives. 


340  The  Dogs  of  Constantinople. 

5.  Laziness  is  the  distinctive  trait  of  the  dogs  of 
Constantinople.     They  lie  down  in  the  middle  of 
the  road,  five,  six,  ten  in  a  line,  or  in  a  ring,  curled  up 
so  that  they  look  more  like  tow-mats  than  animals, 
and  there  they  sleep  the  whole  day  through,  among 
throngs  of  people  coming  and   going,   and   neither 
cold,  nor  heat,  nor  sunshine  can  move  them.    When 
it  snows  they  stay  under  the  snow ;  when  it  rains 
they  lie  down  in  the  mud  up  to  their  ears. 

6.  The  canine  population  of  Constantinople  is  di- 
vided into  quarters  or  wards.     Every  quarter,  every 
street  is  inhabited  or  rather  possessed  by  a  certain 
number  of  dogs  which  never  go  away  from  it,  and 
never  allow  strangers  to  reside  in  it. 

7.  They  exercise  a  kind  of  service  of  police.    They 
have  their  guards,  their  advanced  posts,  their  senti- 
nels ;  they  go  the  rounds  and  make  explorations. 

8.  Woe    to    any   dog   of  another    quarter  which, 
pushed  by  hunger,  shall  risk  himself  within  the  terri- 
tory of  his  neighbors  I     A  crowd  of  curs  fall  upon 
him   at  once,  and  if  they  catch  him,  it  is  all  over 
with  him  ;  if  they  cannot  catch  him,  they  chase  him 
furiously  as  far  as  his  own   domain',  watching  care- 
fully, however,  not  to  venture  a  single  step  beyond 

the  understood  boundary  line. 

DE  AMICIS. 


Insects. 


341 


Insects :  Common  House-fly,  Mosquito,  Butterfly,  Beetle, 
Caterpillar,  Grasshopper. 


XXXVIII.    ABOUT   INSECTS. 

1.  INSECTS  are  everywhere  about  us.     They 
are   in   great   numbers   and    of  great   variety. 
They  are  in  the  air,  in  the  water,  and  all  over 
the  Earth. 

2.  Those  we  know  the  best  are  the  HOUSE- 
FLY, the  BUTTERFLY,  the  MOSQUITO,  the  CAT- 
ERPILLAR, the  GRASSHOPPER,  and  the  BEETLE. 

3.  Besides  these,  there  are  thousands  upon 
thousands  so  small  that  they  cannot  be  seen 
with  the  naked  eye.     There  is  scarcely  a  leaf 
on  a  tree  that  is  not  the  home  of  myriads  of 
these  little  beings. 

4.  If  you  should  look  at  a  drop  of  water  with 
the  aid  of  a  microscope,  you  would  be  amazed 


Caterpillar —  Chrysalis. 


Caterpillar.  Cocoon.  Butterfly. 

Blackboard   Drawing1:  An  Insect  and  its  Changes. 

to  see  the  number  and  variety  of  living  crea- 
tures which  it  contains;  some  swimming  like 
fish  or  eels,  some  jumping  like  frogs,  and  some 
dragging  their  bodies  lazily  along. 

5.  Just  think  of  ten  thousand  (10,000)  occupying  the 
space  of  a  grain  of  sand.     Creatures  which  are  so  small 
as  to  be  invisible,  or  nearly  so,  to  the  naked  eye,  are  called 
An-i-mal'cules. 

6.  Insects  are  of  many  kinds ;  some  have  to 
creep  about  all  their  lives ;   some  creep  only 
for  a  little  while,  like  the  Caterpillar,  and  then 
undergo  changes,  taking  to  themselves  beauti- 
ful wings. 

7.  The  CATERPILLAR  is  the  form  which  the 
insect  takes  just  after  leaving  the  egg ;  after  a 
while  it  spins  or   makes  for  itself  a  kind   of 
case  or  covering,  called  a  cocoon ;   the  insect 
is  then  called  a  Chrysalis.     After  remaining  a 


Destructiveness  of  Insects.  343 

while  thus  enclosed,  this  cocoon  bursts  open, 
and  out  comes  a  beautiful  Butterfly,  changed 
from  what  was,  only  a  short  time  before,  a  slow, 
crawling,  and  repulsive  looking  Worm. 

8.  So,  you  see  that  the  forms  and  changes  of  such 
Insects  are — ist,  the  Egg;  2d,  the  Worm,  Grub  or  Cater- 
pillar ;  3d,  the  Chrysalis ;  and  4th,  the  Butterfly,  or  perfect 
Insect. 

9.  Some  kinds  of  Insects  are  very  trouble- 
some and  often  do  great  damage  to  trees  and 
plants.     You  all  know  how  soon  one  or  two 
Caterpillars  can  eat  up  all  the  leaves  of  a  little 
plant  or  bush  in  your  garden,  and  that  swarms 
of  GRASSHOPPERS  or   LOCUSTS  have  in  a  few 
hours  eaten  up  acres  upon  acres  of  growing 
corn,  besides  grass  and  vegetables. 

10.  The  increase  in  the  numbers  of  Insects  is 
wonderfully  rapid;   indeed,  if  it  were    not  for 
the  multitudes  of  the  busy  birds  whose  food 
consists  wholly  or  mainly  of  Insects,  man  might 
be  unable  to  prevent  the  entire  destruction  of 
his  orchards  and  his  crops. 

11.  Great  numbers  of  Insects  are  devoured  by  other 
Insects,  and  also  by  Toads,  Frogs,  and  Ground  Moles. 

12.  You  must  not  think,  however,  that  all 
Insects,    Caterpillars   and    Butterflies    are    our 
enemies,  for  there  are  some  kinds  that  are  con- 
stantly at  work  for  us. 


344  Silkworm — Cochineal. 

13.  All  the  beautiful  silk  dresses,  handker- 
chiefs and  ribbons  are  made  from  the  material 
which  formed  the  case  or  cocoon  of  a  Cater- 
pillar, called  the  SILKWORM. 

14.  The  SILKWORM  is  hatched  from  an  egg  about  the 
size  of  a  mustard  seed ;  it  eats  the  leaves  of  the  mulberry 
tree,  its  only  food,  and  grows  rapidly.     In  two  or  three 
weeks  it  begins  to  spin  a  very  fine  silken  thread,  which  it 
winds  round  and  round  itself  until  a  ball,  the  size  and 
shape  of  a  pigeon's  egg,  is  formed. 

15.  When  it  is  done  spinning,  the  silk  must  be  carefully 
and  promptly  unwound,  or  the  Butterfly  would  burst  the 
cocoon   and   thus   spoil   the   silk.     To   prevent   this  the 
cocoons  are  sometimes  placed  in  hot  water  or  in  a  hot 
oven,  to  kill  the  worm.     By  means  of  steam  or  hot  vapor, 
the   threads   are   loosened   so   that   they  may  be   easily 
unwound  and  the    Silkworm   saved.     The   manufacturer 
usually  puts  ten  or  twelve  of  these  threads  together  to 
make  one  which  would  be  strong  enough  for  use  in  the 
factory. 

1 6.  It  is  not  a  little  singular  that  this  beautiful  article 
thus   made   by  one   Insect    receives   its   bright    crimson 
and  scarlet  colors  from  another,  the  COCHINEAL  BUG  of 
Mexico. 

17.  The  SILKWORM  is  raised  chiefly  in  China,  Japan, 
France,  Italy,  and  California.     The  Silkworm  and  other 
Caterpillars   breathe   through   several   openings   in  their 
sides. 

1 8.  Next  to  the  Silkworm,  the  Insect  which  is  the  most 
useful  to  man  is  the  BEE,  which  gives  us  delicious  honey. 
This  the  Bees  gather  from  nearly  all  flowers,  and  store 
away  in  nice  little  waxen  cells,  all  of  their  own  making. 


Bees — How    They    Work.  345 

19.  HONEY-BEES   are   of   three   kinds:    the 
Queens,  the  Working-bees,  and  the  Drones. 

20.  The  QUEEN-BEE  is  the  ruler  of  the  hive— 

and  the  mother  of  all  the  young 
Bees  in  it. 

21.  The  WORKERS  are  very 
intelligent  and  industrious.  They 
form  themselves  into  companies. 
One  division  or  company  roams  the  fields  and 
gardens  in  search  of  food ;  another  builds  the 
cells ;  another  helps  those  which  come  back 
with  heavy  loads,  or  feed  and  nurse  the  young 
Bees.  All  make  the  most  of  their  time,  and 
of  every  inch  of  room,  for  their  house  answers 
both  as  nursery  and  storehouse.  There  are  also 
house-cleaners,  sentinels  and  fighters.  Even  in 
a  single  day  they  have  been  known  to  make 
4,000  cells. 

22.  The  royal  cell  which  they  build  for  their  Queen,  is 
made  much  larger  than  any  of  the  others. 

23.  When  the  cells  are  ready,  the  Queen  lays  in  them  a 
great  many  eggs,  from  each  of  which  comes  a  larva,  grub, 
or  worm  (see  paragraph  8).     The  food  of  bees  consists 
chiefly  of  pollen  and  sweet  juices  or  fluids  of  flowers. 

24.  The  WORKERS  have  little   brushes   on  their  legs 
which  also  hold  the  pollen  and  otherwise  help  them  in 
their  work.     They  have  feelers  or  arms  which  enable  them 
to  work  and  feel  their  way  in  the  dark.     By  these  feelers 
they  seem  to  tell  one  another  the  news  of  the  day.     If  the 


346   Bees — Their  Uses — Wasp — Hornet. 

Queen  should  die  they  select  a  young  grub,  which  soon 
becomes  their  Queen.  When  the  Queen  and  a  number  of 
her  household  agree  to  emigrate  and  form  a  new  colony  or 
"swarm,"  they  select  a  new  home,  gather  food,  and  make 
full  preparations  for  the  change.  After  bidding  farewell 
to  their  brothers  and  sisters  which  remain  in  the  old 
home,  they  fly  away.  Those  left  behind  must  select  a 
new  Queen  or  they  all  would  die. 

25.  The  DRONES  (all  males)  are  very  lazy.     They  col- 
lect no  honey,  make  no  wax,  build  no  cells.      Most  of 
them  do  nothing  but  eat  honey  which  the  workers  collect. 
So,  as  winter  comes  on,  the  Workers  get  out  of  patience 
with  their  idleness  and  fly  at  them,  sting  them  to  death, 
and  at  once  remove  the  dead  bodies  from  the  hive. 

26.  The  Working-bees  live  for  several  years.     They 
are  smaller  and  more  numerous  than  the  others.     In  a 
hive  of  20,000  Bees,  the  Workers  will  number  about  19,500,, 
There  is  only  one  Queen  for  every  hive.    The  Workers  are 
assisted  in  building  by  a  gummy  or  sticky  substance  which 
they  gather  from  some  trees.     A  Bee  has  four  wings  and 
six  legs,  and  a  kind  of  tongue  or  proboscis  for  gathering 
honey.     All  but  the  Drones  have  stings. 

27.  Bees,  by  going  from  flower  to  flower,  gathering  and 
mixing  the  pollen  or  powder-like  substance  of  flowers, 
increase  the  varieties  of  fruits,  flowers  and  plants,  and  in 
this  way,  also,  they  are  of  great  advantage  to  us.     This 
last  work  seems  to  be  all  the  HUMBLE  BEE  is  good  for. 
It  lays  up  no  store  of  honey,  usually  builds  in  holes  in  the 
ground,  and  lives  but  one  year.     It  does  not  associate 
with  the  Honey  or  Hive  Bee. 

28.  The  WASP  and  HORNET  are  somewhat  similar  to 
the  Bee.     They  build  and  live  in  little  cells  of  a  paper- 


Ants — How  They  Live  and  Work.    347 

like  substance,  which  they  make  from  bark  and  plants. 
They  have  sharp  stings,  but  do  not  gather  honey  or  make 
wax  like  the  Honey  Bee. 

29.  ANTS  resemble  Bees  in  their  habits  of 
order  and  industry,  and  in  being  divided  into 
three  kinds,  Males,  Females,  and  Workers. 

30.  The  ANT  WORKERS  have  charge  of  the 
eggs,  cocoons,  and  young  Ants,  as  well  as  of 
the  house  affairs. 

31.  If  overtaken  by  a  storm,  or  if  their  nests  should  be 
destroyed,  their  first  duty  is  to  save  their  eggs  or  young, 
and  they  are  seen  running  to  and  fro  with  these  little 
things  in  their  mouths  in  search  of  places  of  safety  for 
them.     The  workers  have  no  wings ;  the  others  have  for 
a  tune,  but  soon  lose  them. 

32.  The  COMMON  ANTS  are  the  Red  and  the 
Black ;  some  have  wings,  others  have  none. 

33.  Ants  of  the  same  family  or  kind  live 
together  in  great  harmony,  and  are  never  weary 
of  helping  each  other.     If  one  is  tired  or  sick, 
another  will  take  him  upon  his  back  and  ten- 
derly carry  him. 

34.  Although  these  little  creatures  make  no  sound,  they 
seem  to  understand  each  other  perfectly.     By  means  of 
their  feelers  they  give  orders,  directions  and  invitations, 
call  for  food,  or  discuss  family  affairs. 

35.  Their  little  jaws  are  hard  and  sharp,  serving  them 
as  axe,  scissors,  pincers  and  sword. 


348  Grasshoppers — Locusts,  Etc. 

36.  Ants  come  forth  in   myriads  about  the 
first  of  April.     Four  or  five  months  of  the  year 
that  the  Ant  is  supposed  to  live,  some  kinds 
spend  in  a  torpid  state. 

37.  Battles  are  sometimes  fought  between  the  different 
families  or  tribes,  desperate  battles,  too;  for  although  of 
a  peaceful  nature,  they  will  not   submit   to  imposition. 
Some  are  very  thievish  and  do  not  stop  with  stealing  the 
food  of  a  neighboring  tribe,  but  they  seize  also  their  eggs 
or  their  young  ones,   and   carry  them   into   captivity  to 
become  slaves  to  them.     Then  the  injured  Ants  levy  war. 
They  form   themselves   into   companies,  battalions,  and 
divisions,  and  station   sentinels  as   soldiers   do.      Army 
meets  army,  they  fight  bravely  and  desperately ;  they  kill 
and  wound  each  other,  punish  spies  and  deserters,  carry 
off  prisoners  and  spoils,  and  when  the  battle  is  over  they 
take  care  of  the  sick  and  wounded. 

38.  The  GRASSHOPPER  is  of  the  same  order 
of  Insects  as  the  Locust,  Cricket  and  Katydid, 
having  long  bodies,  four  wings,  and  three  pairs 
of  legs.     Their  food  is  grass  and  the  leaves  of 
plants. 

39.  Grasshoppers  are  of  great  variety ;  some 
are   green,   some  black,  and    some  variegated. 
Some  make  a  chirping  sound  and  some  are 
always  silent. 

40.  Their  hind  legs  are  much  longer  and  stronger  than 
the   others,   and   are    admirably    fitted   for   jumping    or 
leaping. 


Grasshopper — Locust,  Etc.  349 

41.  It  is  the  male  Grasshopper  which  does   all   the 
chirping.     He  does  not,  however,  chirp  or  sing  as  a  bird 
does,  with  his  voice  or  his  throat.     He  makes  his  peculiar 
sound  with  his  wings,  and  partly,  some  people  say,  with 
his  legs  and  a  kind  of  little  drum  or  cymbal. 

42.  In  the  autumn,  the  mother  Grasshopper  bores  or 
digs  little  holes  in  the  ground  and  lays  a  great  many  eggs 
in  them,  and  on  the  approach  of  frost  she  dies.     The  eggs 
remain  there  all  winter  and  are  hatched  out  by  the  warm 
sun  of  spring.     For  a  while  the  young  ones  hop  only,  and 
seem  to  be  without  wings,  but  these  are  really  concealed 
on  their  sides  and  appear  when  the  time  comes. 

43.  LOCUSTS  are  the  most  destructive  of  this 
kind  of  Insects.     They  fly  in  vast  numbers,  like 
clouds  which  hide  the  sun,  and  come  down  on 
the  growing  crops  of  spring  as  fast  and  as  num- 
berless as  snowflakes  in  a  winter's  storm. 

44.  Their  visits  in  Western  Asia  and  Northern  Africa 
are  terrible,  for  they  are  sure  to  leave  famine  and  desola- 
tion behind  them.     The  Locusts,  called  also  Grasshop- 
pers, which  they  resemble,  have  at  times  done  great  dam- 
age to  the  corn  of  some  of  our  Northwestern  States  and 

Territories. 
i 

45.  Locusts  are  sold  in  the  markets  of  Europe,  Asia 
and  Africa  as  an  article  of  food. 

46.  The  "  SEVENTEEN-YEAR  LOCUST  "  (more 
correctly  called  HARVEST  FLY)  has  a  thicker 
body  and  shorter  legs  than  the  Locust  or  the 
Grasshopper.     It  flies,  but  does  not  leap. 


35O     Harvest  Fly — Cricket — Mosquito. 

47.  These  Insects  lay  their  eggs  in  the  twigs  of  trees, 
and  then  die.     From  the  eggs  are  hatched,  during  the 
same  summer,  little  six-legged  worms,  so   small   that  it 
would  take  sixteen  of  them  to  measure  one  inch  in  length. 
These  remain  in  the  ground  seventeen  years,  feeding  on 
the  juices  of  roots.     At  the  end  of  that  time  they  enclose 
themselves  in  a  shell  or  case,  then  crawl  up  the  trunks 
and  branches  of  trees,  to  which  they  cling  until  their  shell 
or  dry  skin  bursts  open ;  and,  finding  themselves  provided 
with  wings,  they  fly  away. 

48.  CRICKETS  belong  to  the  same  order  of 
Insects  as  the  Locusts  and  Grasshoppers.   They 
can  dig  underground  passages  for  themselves, 
and  their  long  hind  legs  enable  them  to  take 
long  leaps. 

49.  House   Crickets   and   Field   Crickets   are   deadly 
enemies  to  each  other;   in  fact,  Crickets   generally  are 
very  quarrelsome  and  are  always  ready  for  a  fight.     In 
Germany,  mis'chievous  boys  get  up  pitched  battles  between 
them,  when  these  warlike  Insects  kick  like  horses,  butt 
like  rams,  and  scratch  like  cats,  until  one  or  the  other 
runs  away  or  is  disabled. 

50.  One  of  the  most  annoying  Insects  is  the 
MOSQUITO,  which  has  a  long,  slender  body,  six 
legs,  and  two  wings.     It  has  also  a  little  pro- 
boscis for  piercing  and  sucking.     This  contains 
several   lancets   so    small   and   so    sharp   that 
together   they   are   finer   and    sharper  than  a 
needle. 


Mosquito — Dragon  Fly.  351 

51.  Mosquitoes  are  produced  from  eggs  which  float  on 
the  water.     When  these  are  hatched  they  are  little  worms 
and  seem  to  hang  from  the  surface  of  the  water  head 
downward,  when  they  are  called  '•  Wigglers."    They  change 
their  skins  several  times,  then  become  a  kind  of  Chrysalis 
in  a  little  case  or  cocoon,  which,  like  the  Caterpillar,  they 
soon  burst,  and,  drying  their  newly  found  wings,  they  fly 
away  into  the  air  in  search  of  food. 

52.  They  find  their  food  in  the  dew  and  in  the  juices 
of  flowers  and  plants.     Some  kinds  are  active  by  day, 
others  by  night.     Those  which  attack  man  and  beast  for 
blood  are  the  females  only.     The  "  Wigglers  "  feed  raven- 
ously on  the  animalcules  in  ponds  and  marshes,  and  thus 
aid  in  purifying  the  water. 

53.  The  eggs  become  perfect  Insects  in  three  weeks, 
and  many  broods  are  hatched  every  warm  season. 

54.  Mosquitoes  infest  forests  and  marshy  places   in 
every  country  and  in  every  climate ;  in  cold  Siberia  and 
Lapland,  as  well  as  in  the  hot  valley  of  the  Amazon. 

55.  The  GNAT,  HOUSE  FLY,  and  Ox  FLY  belong  to  the 
same  order  of  Insects  as  the  Mosquito. 

56.  The   DRAGON    FLY  has  a  long,  slender 
body  and  four  long,  narrow  wings. 

57.  Its  thin,  crisp  wings  are  as  clear  as  glass, 
reflecting  all  the  colors  of   the  rainbow,  and 
seem  to  be  in  rapid  and  almost  constant  mo- 
tion.    While  flying,  it  catches  multitudes  of 
Mosquitoes,  Gnats,  Beetles,  Flies,   and   other 
Insects. 


Blackboard  Drawing-:   Honey  Bee,  length  of  body,  half  inch; 
Dragon  Fly,  3  inches. 

58.  They  are  therefore  beneficial,  and  not  in 
the  least  injurious  to  man  or  child  (although  it 
bears,  in  some  places,  the  frightful  name  of 
"  Devil's  Darning  Needle  "). 

59.  It  undergoes  changes  from  the  egg  to  the  worm 
and   the   chrysalis,  in   the   water,    occupying   two  years. 
When  its  wings  are  ready,  it  rises  above  its  old  home  in 
the  marsh  or  the  pool,  to  fly,  shine,  chase,  kill,  eat,  and 
die,  all  in  a  single  season. 

60.  BUTTERFLIES,  like  other   Insects  which 
fly,  have   two  long,  slender   horns  or  feelers, 
which  they  can  turn  in  every  direction. 

6 1.  When  they  lay  their  eggs,  they  fasten  them  to  some 
plant  or  leaf,  with  a  sort  of  glue  of  their  own  making. 
There  they  remain  until  hatched  into  a  kind  of  worm, 
which  is  called  a  caterpillar  if  it  has  legs,  or  a  grub  if  it 
has  no  legs. 

62.  The  Caterpillar  eats  enormously,  grows 
rapidly,  and  often  changes  its  skin. 


Caterpillar — House  Fly.  353 

63.  When  about  six  weeks  old  it  stops  eating,  and 
covers  itself  with  a  kind  of  cobweb  or  cocoon,  which  it 
fastens  to  a  convenient  branch.      There  it  hangs  as  a 
chrysalis,  until  it  bursts  the  case  and  sails  into  the  air  on 
beautifully  colored  wings  to  spend  the  rest  of  its  short  life 
in  flitting  among  flowers  and  blossoms  and  sipping  honey. 

64.  The  microscope  shows  that  the  wings  of  the  But- 
terfly are  covered  with  numberless  little  scales  of  every 
variety  of  form  and  color,  and  that  its  eyes  are  composed 
of  a  great  many  smaller  eyes. 

65.  Butterflies  generally  live  but  one  season, 
although  some  live  through  the  winter. 

66.  The  HOUSE  FLY  has  two  wings,  six  legs, 
a  sucking  proboscis  for  taking  its  food,  and  two 
great  eyes  which  are  composed  of  4,000  small 
eyes. 

67.  Its  feet   are   remarkably  formed  to   enable  it  to 
creep  up  smooth  surfaces  like  glass  or  on  ceilings. 

68.  It  holds  on  by  means  of  a  gum  or  sticky  substance 
with  which  its  feet  are  supplied  ;  some  say  it  holds  on  by 
means  of  sharp  little  hooks  on  the  feet ;  and  others  say  its 
feet,  when  pressed  against  glass  or  the  ceiling,  form  vacu- 
ums, and  that  the  fly  is  held  on  by  the  pressure  of  the  air 
(as  explained  on  page  119). 

69.  Most  Flies  die  when  frost  comes;   but  some  of 
those  which  hide  away  in  warm  nooks  and  corners  live 
just  long  enough  to  lay  a  great  many  eggs  the  next  sum- 
mer.    In  a  few  hours  these  eggs  are  hatched  into  little 

which,  in  a  few  days,  become  flies. 


354 


Perseverance 


XXXIX.     BRUCE  AND    THE   SPIDER 

OR  Scotland's  and  for  freedom's  right, 

The  Bruce  his  part  had  played 
In  five  successive  fields  of  fight, 

Been  conquered  and  dismayed  ; 
Once  more  against  the  English  host 
His  band  he  led,  and  once  more  lost 

The  meed  for  which  he  fought ; 
And  now  from  battle,  faint  and  worn, 
The  homeless  fugitive  forlorn 

A  hut's  lone  shelter  sought. 

And  cheerless  was  that  resting-place 

For  him  who  claimed  a  throne : 
His  canopy,  devoid  of  grace, 

The  rude,  rough  beams  alone; 
The  heather  couch  his  only  bed,— 
Yet  well  I  wean  had  slumber  fled 

From  couch  of  eider-down  ! 
Through  darksome  night  till  dawn  of  day 
Absorbed  in  wakeful  thought  he  lay 

Of  Scotland  and  her  crown. 

The  sun  rose  brightly,  and  its  gleam 

Fell  on  that  hapless  bed, 
And  tinged  with  light  each  shapeless  beam 

Which  roofed  the  lowly  shed  ; 
When,  looking  up  with  wistful  eye 
The  Bruce  beheld  a  spider  try 


Taught  by  a  Spider.  355 

His  filmy  thread  to  fling 
From  beam  to  beam  of  that  rude  cot ; 
And  well  the  insect's  toilsome  lot 

Taught  Scotland's  future  king. 

Six  times  his  gossamery  thread 

The  wary  spider  threw ; 
In  vain  the  filmy  line  was  sped, 

For  powerless  or  untrue 
Each  aim  appeared,  and  back  recoiled 
The  patient  insect,  six  times  foiled, 

And  yet  unconquered  still ; 
And  soon  the  Bruce,  with  eager  eye, 
Saw  him  prepare  once  more  to  try 

His  courage,  strength,  and  skill. 

One  effort  more,  his  seventh  and  last! 

The  hero  hailed  the  sign  ! 
And  on  the  wished-for  beam  hung  fast 

That  slender,  silken  line  ; 
Slight  as  it  was,  his  spirit  caught 
The  more  than  omen,  for  his  thought 

The  lesson  well  could  trace, 
Which  even  "  he  who  runs  may  read/ 
That  Perseverance  gains  its  meed, 

And  Patience  wins  the  race. 


356     A  Queen's  Visit  to  King  Solomon. 


XL.     KING  SOLOMON   AND   THE   BEES. 

|HEN  Solomon  was  reigning  in  his  glory, 

Unto  his  throne  the  Queen  of  Sheba  came, 
(So  in  the  Talmud  you  may  read  the  story), 
Drawn  by  the  magic  of  the  monarch's  fame, 
To  see  the  splendors  of  his  court,  and  bring 
Some  fitting  tribute  to  the  mighty  king. 

Nor  this  alone ;  much  had  her  highness  heard 

What  flowers  of  learning  graced  the  royal  speech ; 

What  gems  of  wisdom  dropped  with  every  word ; 
What  wholesome  lessons  he  was  wont  to  teach 

In  pleasing  proverbs  ;  and  she  wished  in  sooth, 

To  know  if  Rumor  spoke  the  simple  truth. 

And  straight  she  held  before  the  monarch's  view, 
In  either  hand,  a  radiant  wreath  of  flowers ; 

The  one  bedecked  with  every  charming  hue, 

Was  newly  culled  from  Nature's  choicest  bowers  ; 

The  other,  no  less  fair  in  every  part, 

Was  the  rare  product  of  divinest  Art. 

"  Which  is  the  true,  and  which  the  false?"  she  said. 
Great  Solomon  was  silent.     All  amazed, 

Each  wondering  courtier  shook  his  puzzled  head, 
While  at  the  garlands  long  the  monarch  gazed, 

As  one  who  sees  a  miracle, — and  fain, 

For  very  rapture,  ne'er1  would  speak  again. 

1  Ne'er,  ndre. 


Problem  Solved  by  the  Bees.  357 

"Which  is  the  true  ?  "  once  more  the  woman  asked, 
Pleased  at  the  fond  amazement  of  the  king, 

"  So  wise  a  head  should  not  be  hardly  tasked, 
Most  learned  liege,1  with  such  a  trivial  thing  !  " 

But  still  the  sage  was  silent,  it  was  plain 

A  deepening  doubt  perplexed  the  royal  brain. 

While  thus  he  pondered,  presently  he  sees, 
Hard  by  the  casement,  —  so  the  story  goes  — 

A  little  band  of  busy,  bustling  bees, 
Hunting  for  honey  in  a  withered  rose. 

The  monarch  smiled,  and  raised  his  royal  head  ; 

"  Open  the  window  !  "  —  that  was  all  he  said. 

The  window  opened  at  the  king's  command  ; 

-Within  the  room  the  eager  insects  flew, 
And  sought  the  flowers  in  Sheba's  dexter2  hand! 

And  so  the  king  and  all  the  courtiers3  knew 
That  wreath  was  nature's  ;  and  the  baffled  queen 
Returned  to  tell  the  wonders  she  had  seen. 

My  story  teaches  (every  tale  should  bear 
A  fitting  moral)  that  the  wise  may  find 

In  trifles  light  as  atoms  in  the  air, 

Some  useful  lesson  to  enrich  the  mind  ; 

Some  truth  designed  to  profit  or  to  please,  — 

As  Israel's  king  learned  wisdom  from  the  bees  ! 

JOHN  G.  SAXE. 


1  Liege,  leej,  sovereign. 

2  Dexter  hand,  right  hand. 

8  Courtier,  korfyer,  member  of  a 


BRA 
TOift  "V 


WORDS    IN    COMMON    USE    WHICH    ARE 
OFTEN    MISPRONOUNCED. 


EXPLANATION  OF  MARKS. 


8  as  in  fate  ; 
fi  as  in   far  ; 
6  as  in  meet  ; 
I  as  in  pine  ; 


a  as  in  fat. 
a,  as  in  fair. 
S  as  in  mgn. 
I  as  in  pin. 


0  as  in  Old  ; 
ti  as  in  flee  ; 
g  as  in  go  ; 
th  as  in  there 


5  as  in  5n. 

a  as  in  us. 
g  as  in  gem. 
th  as  in  thin. 


[These  pronunciations  are  all  according  to  Webster.] 


Ab-d5'men,  not  ab'. 
Ab'ject-ly,  not  ject'. 
Ab-ste'mi-ous,  not  stem' 
Ac-cli'mate,  not  ac'. 
Acoustics,  a-kow'stix,  not  koo. 
A-cr5ss',  not  krawst. 
Ad-dress',  not  ad'. 
Ad'mi-ra-ble,  not  ml'. 
Adult',  not  ad'ult. 
Ad'verse,  not  verse'. 
Ad-ver-tise',  not  ad-vert'is. 
A'er-o-llte,  not  a-er'. 
Again,  a-gen',  not  a-gain. 
Agile,  aj'il,  not  S-jile. 
Al'a-bas-ter,  not  al-a-bas'ter. 
Al-bu'men,  not  al'. 
Al'ge-bra,  not  bra. 
Almond,  a'mund. 
Alms,  iimz. 
Al-pac'a,  not  al-a. 
A-nSm'o-ne,  not  mo'. 
Anew,  a-nu,  not  a-noo. 
Ap-pa-ra'tus,  not  rat'. 
A'pex,  not  ap'ex. 
Apostle,  a-pos'sl,  not  stle. 
Apricot,  a'pri-cot,  not  ap'. 
Aqueduct,  ak'we-dukt,  not  duk. 
Ar'ab,  not  a'rab, 
Ar'a-bic. 


Architect,  ar'ki-tSct,  not  artsh. 

Arctic,  ark'tik,  not  ar'tik. 

Ar'id,  not  a'rid. 

Armistice,  ar'mis-tis. 

Aspirant,  as-plr'ant. 

Ath-e-ne'um. 

Au-da'cious,  not  dash'. 

Aunt,  ant. 

Bade,  bad,  not  bad. 

Bar'rel,  not  bar!. 

Been,  bin. 

Begone,  gon,  not  gawn. 

Be-queath',  not  queath. 

Bi-tu'men,  not  bit'. 

Blasphemous,    blas'fe-mus,    na 

fe'. 

Bombast,  bum 'bast. 
Bombazine,  bum-ba-zeen'. 
Bouquet,  boo-ka',  not  b5. 
Bowsprit,  bO,  not  bou. 
Breth'ren,  not  breth'er-en. 
Brig'and,  not  brig-and'. 
Biir'gun-dy,  not  gun'. 
Calf,  kaf. 

Cal'is-then-ics,  not  cal-is'. 
Calliope,  kal-ll'o-pe,  not  kal', 
Calm,  kam,  not  kam. 
Ca-nlne',  not  ca'. 
Car'bme,  not  been. 


Words  often  Mispronounced.  359 


Ca'ret,  not  ca'. 
Car-ib-be'an,  not  rib'. 
Cartridge,  not  cat. 
Cem'e-ter-y,  not  try. 
Cen-trip'e-tal,  not  pe'tal. 
Chasten,  cha'sn. 
Chim-pan'zee,  not  zee'. 
Chirography,  ki-rog'ra-phy,  not 

tshi. 

Ch5c'o-late. 
Cincinnati,  te,  not  tab. 
Cocoa,  ko'ko. 
CbTfee,  not  cauf. 
C5f 'fin,  not  cauf. 
Col-os-se'um. 
Cbm^Dat-ant,  not  bat'. 
CSm'bat-ive, 

Comely,  kum'ly,  not  kome. 
C5m'mu-nist,  not  mu'. 
Cftra'pa-ra-ble,  «0/  par'. 
Con-spir'a-cy,  not  con-sp!'ra-cy. 
C5r'al,  not  cO'ral. 
Courier,,  koo're-er,  not  kur'. 
Cu'po-la,  not  lo. 
De-bris,  da-brg'. 
Dec'ade,  not  ade'. 
Deficit,  defi-sit,  not  de-fis'it. 
Draught,  draft. 
Drought,  drout. 
Dy'nas-ty,  not  nas'. 
Elm,  not  el'um. 
Ewe,  yu. 
Pi-nance7,  not  fi'. 
Financier,  fln-an-seer'. 
Flo'rist,  not  flor'. 
Forbade,  bad,  not  bad. 
Gonrdo-la;  not  gon  dO^a. 
Gov'ern-ment,  not  guv"er-munt. 
Grievous,  grgv'us,  not  grev-i-us. 
Gri-mace',  not  grim'. 
Gua'n$. 


Gypsum,  jip'sum. 

Har'ass. 

Haunt,  hant,  not  hant. 

Hearth,  harth,  not  hurth. 

Heinous,  ha'nus,  not  hee'« 

Herb,  erb. 

Her'o-ine,  in,  not  Ine. 

Ho-ri'zon,  not  hor'. 

Hos'pi-ta-ble,  not  pit'. 

Hostler,  Ss'ler. 

Hy-drop'a-thy. 

I-de'a,  not  i'de-a. 

Ig-no-ra'mus. 

D-lus'trate,  not  il'. 

In-dis'pu-ta-ble,  not  pu'. 

In'sects,  not  sex. 

Inveigle,  in-ve'gl. 

Is'o-late,  not  i'so. 

Juvenile,  nil,  not  nlle. 

Kiln,  kll. 

Laugh,  laf,  not  laf. 

Laundry,  lan'dry,  not  Ian. 

Leisure,  Ig'zhur. 

Lev-ee',  a  morning  party. 

Lev'ee,  high  bank  of  a  river. 

Ly-ce'um, 

Ma-ni'a-cal. 

Mar'i-time,  tim,  not  time. 

Ma'tron,  not  mat'. 

May'or-al-ty,  not  al'i  ty. 

Memoir,  mem'wor,  or  me'mwSr. 

Mis'chievous,  not  cheev7. 

Mbn'o-gram,  not  m5-no. 

Mu-nic'i-pal,  nis',  not  sip'. 

Museum,  mu-zg'um,  not  mu'. 

Mush'room,  not  roon. 

Mus-tache',  not  mus'. 

Ne'er  (never),  nare,  not  neer. 

Neu-ral'gi-a,  ral'je-a,  ^/ral'i-ja. 

New,  nil,  not  noo. 

Nom'ad,  not  no'mad. 


360  Words  often  Mispronounced. 


None,  nun,  not  nOne. 
Nothing,  nuth'ing,  not  nSth'in. 
Obeisance,  obay'sance. 
Ob'elisk,  not  (/be. 
Ob'se-quies,  not  ob-se'. 
Office,  office,  not  au'fus. 
Official,  of-fish'al,  not  5-fish'al. 
O-le-o-mar'ga-rine,  g  not  j. 
Ominous,  Sm'i-nous,  not  5'. 
On'er-ous,  not  5'. 
Onyx,  o'nyx,  not  6n'. 
Op-po'nent,  not  op'. 
Or'de-al,  not  or-de'al. 
Ostler,  os'ler. 
Ostrich,  6s-trich,  not  aus'. 
Palm,  pam,  not  pam. 
Pa-pa',  not  pap'pa. 
Pa'tron,  not  pat'. 
Pecuniary,  pe-kune'yah-re. 
Pianoforte,  pS-a'no-for'tS. 
Pincers,  not  chers. 
Piquant,  pik'ant. 
Ple-bexian,  not  pie'. 
Poignant,  poi'nant. 
Po-made,  not  mad. 
Pon'iard,  not  poin'. 
Possess,  poz-zes',  not  pO-zes. 
Prbd'nce,  not  pr5x. 
Prbg'ress,  not  prO'. 
Psyche,  sl'ke. 
Pur-sue',  not  soo. 
Py-ram'i-dal. 
Quar'rel,  not  quarl. 
Quay,  k6. 
Quoit,  not  quate. 
Reptile,  til,  not  tile. 


Ro-mance',  not  ro'. 

Ruffian,  ruf'yan. 

Sac'ra-ment,  not  sake. 

Salmon,  sam'un. 

Sanguine,  sang'gum,  not  guine 

Sar-sa-pa-ril'la,  not  sas. 

Satyr,  sa'tur. 

Sau'cy,  not  sas'e. 

Saunter,  san'ter,  not  sawn  ter 

Sau'sage,  not  sas'. 

Schism,  sizm',  not  siz'um. 

Sergeant,  sar'jent. 

Servile,  vil,  not  vile. 

Si'ne-cure,  not  sin'. 

Sir'up.  not  sur. 

Soften,  sof'n,  not  ten. 

Squalor,  not  squa. 

StbTid,  not  sto'. 

Stu'dent,  not  stoo. 

Stu'pid,  not  stoo. 

Sub-due',  not  doo. 

Su-per'flu-ous,  not  flu'. 

Supple,  sup'pl,  not  soo'pl. 

Tas'sel,  not  taw'sl. 

Taunt,  tant,  not  tant  nor  tawnt. 

Trib'une,  not  tri'. 

Trousseau,  troo-sO'. 

Tu'lip,  not  too'. 

Tune,  not  toon. 

Typhus,  ti'fus,  not  pus. 

Un-in'ter-est-iiig,  not  est'. 

Ve'he-mence,  not  ve-he'. 

With,  not  with. 

Withe,  not  withe. 

Yacht,  yot. 

Zo-ol'o-gy,  not  zoo-ol'. 


Take  care  to  distinguish  between  lie  and  lay,  sit  and  set,  ill 
and  into.  When  you  lay  the  book  on  the  table,  then  the  book 
lie§  on  the  table.  When  you  §et  the  chair  at  the  table,  you  may  sit 
down  on  it.  Water  is  in  the  pitcher ;  pour  some  of  it  in  to  your  glass. 


